Affinity Group Experiences in Pharmacy Education: A Pilot Study

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Abstract
This study aims to examine the current wellbeing among pharmacy students in underrepresented groups (URGs) and investigate the impact on having access to affinity groups. A survey was distributed to students in April and May 2023, at a Midwestern College of Pharmacy, centering around diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts and their impact on student wellbeing and experiences with the college-supported affinity groups. Student responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Sixty-five (75%) of the eighty-six students who completed the survey identified with at least one URG. First-generation students (n = 36), underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (n = 24), and LGBTQ+ (n = 13) were the three most prominent groups. Twenty-seven percent (n = 23) of students belonged to multiple URGs. Among the students in URGs, three out of four experienced distress. The students in URGs experienced distress at a higher rate compared to their peers in all categories. Twenty percent (n = 16) of students did not agree that there was equitable treatment on campus. This rate was higher among students in URGs compared to their peers. Eighty-three percent (n = 52) of individuals who did not participate in an affinity group recognized there was a need. Among individuals who did not participate, nearly half identified with a URG. Pharmacy students, especially those in URGs, may benefit from additional interventions by pharmacy schools to improve the offering and visibility of supportive services. Providing URG-centered resources addresses the gap between the wellbeing and academic experience of pharmacy students in URGs compared to their peers.

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