Objective To construct a training model for experimental assistants with a dual role of "learner - manager", and explore its application effect on improving students' comprehensive quality and optimizing experimental teaching management in pharmaceutical practice education.

Methods Sixty-six experimental assistants from grades 2015 to 2022 of the School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University were selected as the observation group, and 132 undergraduate students of the same major during the same period who did not participate in this model were selected as the control group. They were matched at a ratio of 1∶2. The control group adopted the traditional experimental teaching mode, while the observation group implemented the closed-loop training mode of "selection - training - management - assessment" for experimental assistants. The comprehensive quality indicators such as the experimental operation ability, subject competition results, postgraduate entrance examination and further education rate and participation in scientific research, as well as the related indicators of experimental teaching management efficiency were compared between two groups.

Results The rate of standardized experimental operation and participation rate of open laboratory projects in the observation group were 92.7% and 85.5% respectively, which were significantly higher than 76.1% and 32.6% in the control group (P ＜ 0.01). The proportion of winners in provincial-level or above experimental skills competitions and average postgraduate entrance examination admission rate in the observation group were 63.6% and 79.3%, respectively, which were significantly higher than 27.3% and 45.7% in the control group (P ＜ 0.01). The participation rate of university-level and above scientific research projects and output rate of academic achievements in the observation group were 53.0% and 42.4%, respectively, which were significantly higher than 8.3% and 6.1% in the control group (P ＜ 0.01). In terms of management efficiency, the average daily experimental management time of teachers decreased, the utilization rate of laboratory resources increased, and the rates of reagent waste and instrument failure decreased.

Conclusions The training model for experimental assistants can effectively enhance the comprehensive quality of students majoring in pharmacy, optimize the efficiency of experimental teaching management at the same time, and provide a replicable reference path for the cultivation of practical talents in pharmacy