Objectives: Based on experience using a validated instrument designed for physicians (Four Habits Model-FHM) to evaluate student pharmacists’ communication skills during patient encounters, the goals were to: 1) develop an effective, comprehensive and valid framework with assessment rubric specific to pharmacist-patient communication skills and 2) use that framework and rubric to teach, assess and evaluate student pharmacists’ skills during patient encounters.

Method: Literature review identified 8 additional clinician-patient communication instruments. Faculty teaching clinical communication and health literacy compared each to the FHM and a prior self-developed instrument. Unique, important aspects for pharmacists were identified by consensus and included in a new (PaCT) framework and assessment rubric. Feedback was incorporated from two rounds of review by an external, interdisciplinary panel of 10 communication and health literacy experts. Consenting standardized patients critiqued the framework from the patients’ perspective. Framework and rubric were further revised after piloting with P-4 students.

Results: The PaCT framework includes 23 skills categorized into 5 general “tools”. The FHM authors determined the PaCT to be significantly different from the FHM. Face and content validity was supported by external review. The PaCT rubric provided formative assessment and final evaluation for 190 P-3 student encounters with standardized patients in a required course. The framework, assessment rubric, and summary materials will be presented.

Implications: The PaCT addresses the need for a validated framework and rubric specifically designed for student pharmacist clinical communication skills. Further validity testing is in process. The PaCT’s suitability for other health care professionals could be evaluated.