# Pharmacy Students’ Perceptions of Self-Reflection and Peer and Educator Feedback on the Development of Patient Counselling Skills: A Qualitative Analysis

## TL;DR

This study explores how pharmacy students use self-reflection and feedback to improve their patient counseling skills through simulation exercises.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how reflective practices and feedback influence pharmacy students' development of patient counseling skills.

## Key findings

- Students found peer and educator feedback valuable for refining counseling skills and building confidence.
- Self-reflection through structured prompts helped students set goals and improve their counseling style.
- Reflection and feedback together were seen as important for professional identity development.

## Abstract

(1) Background: Simulation is an effective way to develop practical pharmacy skills; combining simulation and self-reflection can increase impacts on learning. While existing literature highlights the benefits of reflection in developing self-awareness, critical thinking, and professional skills, there are few specific insights into how reflective practices enhance learning in patient counselling role-plays. This study aimed to explore pharmacy students’ perceptions of self-reflection and peer and educator feedback on the development of patient counselling skills. (2) Methods: Thematic analysis of student reflections on learning in patient counselling activities. Responses to four structured self-reflection prompts were collected and analyzed thematically. (3) Results: Reflections from 201 students were analyzed. We identified four themes and ten associated subthemes: impact of peer feedback (subthemes supportive peer dynamics and developing a personal counselling style through peer practice); impact of self-reflection and assessment (subthemes goal setting through self-reflection and video review as a tool for skill refinement); impact of educator feedback (subthemes feedback variation in learning growth and addressing self-doubt); and professional identity (subthemes value pharmacists can bring, struggles in real-life practice, incorporating feedback to working opportunities, and reinforcing skills to self-reflect in future practice). (4) Conclusions: Integrating consistent, high-quality feedback from educators and peers with self-reflection in patient counselling activities is perceived as valuable to enhancing enhances students’ learning experiences and preparing them for professional practice.