An Elective Course on Pharmacy-Based Health Screenings

Objective. To provide an elective course for pharmacy students focused on the knowledge and skills necessary to implement health screenings in a pharmacy environment.Design. Course lectures focused on expert recommendations for health screenings as well as regulatory requirements and procedures integral to the implementation of screening services. Workshops provided hands-on experience with blood glucose, body composition, bone density, and cholesterol testing devices.Assessment. Attainment of knowledge and skills was assessed by patient case assignments, screening device demonstrations, group projects, and a final quiz. Annual course evaluations revealed consistently favorable student feedback regarding the course design and content. Students reported a high level of preparedness and interest in participating in health screening services in future practice.Conclusion. An elective course focused on the delivery of health screenings in pharmacy settings was well received by student participants and exposed students to a unique opportunity in patient care.     

A Team-Based Learning Course on Nutrition and Lifestyle Modification

Objective. To create, implement, and evaluate an elective team-based learning (TBL) course on nutrition and lifestyle modification for pharmacy students.Design. An elective course with 15 contact hours was developed for second-year pharmacy students based on the principles of TBL. Student knowledge gained and satisfaction with the course were measured.Assessment. Sixty-two students completed the course. Knowledge about nutrition and lifestyle modification was significantly improved by completing the course (59% and 91%, respectively, p=<0.001). The satisfaction survey instrument had a response rate of 97%, and the majority of students (>85%) responded favorably to the TBL components.Conclusion. An elective course using TBL effectively delivered course content while teaching students communication and teamwork skills. The course was well received by students.     

An elective course to engage student pharmacists in elementary school science education

Objective. To develop and assess the impact of an elective course (HealthWISE) on student pharmacists’ skills in communication and health promotion and elementary school students’ knowledge of and attitudes toward science.Design. Three colleges and schools of pharmacy collaborated to develop a 1-credit elective course that used online and classroom teaching and learning techniques to prepare student pharmacists to teach science in elementary school classrooms. Student pharmacists delivered 6 science lessons to elementary students over the course of 2 months.Assessment. In weekly journal reflections and a final paper, student pharmacists reported improved communication and health promotion skills. Elementary teachers reported they were satisfied with student pharmacists’ performance in the classroom. On pretest and posttest evaluations, elementary students demonstrated increased science knowledge and enhanced enthusiasm for science following the lessons taught by student pharmacists.Conclusions. The HealthWISE elective course provided positive benefit for student pharmacists, elementary school teachers, and elementary students.     

A mental health elective to improve pharmacy students' perspectives on mental illness

Objective

To evaluate the impact of a mental health elective on pharmacy students'' perceptions and stigmatizing views of mental illness.

Design

An elective was designed that featured an advanced overview of psychopharmacology; student training in motivational interviewing; a presentation by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) local chapter; introduction to pharmacy collaborations with peer support specialists, social workers, and psychiatrists; mock patient counseling sessions; and a required psychiatric patient interview at a local community mental health center.

Assessment

A survey instrument with 17 Likert-scale items was constructed to measure 2 distinct areas: social distance and stigmatizing views. The survey instrument was administered at the beginning and end of the spring 2010 semester to pharmacy students enrolled in the mental health elective course and to a control group of pharmacy students enrolled in an unrelated clinical elective. The course had a positive impact on pharmacy students'' perceptions of mental illnesses. Students'' social distance and stigmatizing views of mental illnesses improved, while no significant change in views occurred among students in the control group.

Conclusion

Advanced training in psychiatric medicine and exposure to mental health care are vital to prepare pharmacy students to provide unbiased, patient-centered care to this population.     

A Leadership Elective Course Developed and Taught by Graduate Students

Objective. To develop and implement a flexible-credit elective course to empower student pharmacists to develop lifelong leadership skills and provide teaching practice opportunities for graduate students.Design. An elective course focusing on leadership development for second- and third-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students was designed and taught by 4 graduate students under the mentorship of 2 faculty members. Student pharmacists could enroll in a 1-, 2-, or 3-credit-hour version of the course.Assessment. Attainment of course objectives was measured using student pharmacist reflection papers and continuing professional development portfolios. Additionally, self-assessments of graduate students and faculty members delivering the course were conducted. In their responses on course evaluations, student pharmacists indicated they found the course a valuable learning experience. Graduate students found course development to be challenging but useful in developing faculty skills.Conclusion. This flexible-credit elective course taught by graduate students was an innovative way to offer formal leadership instruction using limited college resources.     

The Sustained,Positive Impact of a Native American Cultures and Health Course on Students’ Education and Practice-Related Choices

Objective. To encourage pharmacy students to elect education and practice opportunities in Native American communities, including careers with the Indian Health Service (IHS).Methods. Students in 2 elective courses were educated on various aspects of contemporary Native American life in urban and reservation environments, including cultural traditions, social and health-related challenges, health access disparities, and cultural approaches to health and wellness. The teachers were Native American leaders and healers primarily from Plains tribes, as well as non-Native American practitioners affiliated with IHS hospitals and tribal health facilities. Students kept reflective journals, and a subset spent 5 days immersed in a rural Navajo community where they lived and worked alongside IHS practitioners and Community Health Representatives.Results. Student engagement with IHS opportunities was tracked for 11 years. Of the 69 pharmacy students who completed the electives, 11 applied for a Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Externship Program (Jr. COSTEP) (8 accepted, 6 completed), 43 requested one or more IHS APPEs (43 accepted, 32 completed, 8 in progress), 17 applied for an IHS residency (1 pending, 8 accepted, 5 completed), and 5 became IHS Commissioned Corps officers. Five additional students accepted an IHS or tribal position, with 3 pursuing a USPHS commission.Conclusion. Since the first report on the impact of this elective experience was published, the course continues to meet its primary objective of promoting interest in IHS/tribal education experiences and pharmacy practice careers.     

An Online Health Informatics Elective Course for Doctor of Pharmacy Students

Objective. To describe the development and assessment of an online elective health informatics course and determine its potential for universal integration into doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curricula.Design. A 2-credit hour online elective course was developed and offered to all PharmD students; voiced-over Powerpoint lectures were used to deliver content.Assessment. Assessment of student performance was measured using quantitative metrics via discussion questions, quizzes, written papers, and examinations. Qualitative findings were measured through discussion questions, a goal-setting classroom assessment technique, and an end-of-course reflection. Students report finding value in the course and recognizing how the knowledge gained could impact their future practice as pharmacists. Conclusion. An online course in health informatics can be an effective way to deliver content and provide a blueprint for continued integration of the content into curricula.     

Developing the future of pharmacy through health-system pharmacy internship programs.

PURPOSE: A summer health-system pharmacy internship program developed outside the doctor of pharmacy curriculum is described. SUMMARY: The summer pharmacy internship program was implemented in 2002. The main goal of the internship program is to develop the profession of pharmacy by providing pharmacy students an opportunity to work in various practice settings within a health system. The internship is also designed to develop students' interest in health-system pharmacy by allowing them to meet and shadow pharmacists in various specialties. Learning objectives include the development of career goals, pharmacy technical skills (e.g., sterile preparation), drug literature review (e.g., journal club), pharmacy practice and practice leadership. Students are required to start their internship one week after the end of the school year and end it one week before the beginning of their next semester of classes. The internship is a paid position, with pay being commensurate with the student's current pharmacy school year. Students spend 40 hours per week in the program, with one weekend commitment. Approximately 75% of the intern's time is spent dispensing medications, and 25% is spent in meetings, working on projects, and shadowing pharmacists. Interns meet one-on-one each week with an assigned preceptor to discuss relevant pharmacy questions and career opportunities and to provide updates about current projects. Of the six interns who have graduated from pharmacy school since this program's inception, five have pursued careers in health-system pharmacy. CONCLUSION: The summer pharmacy internship program at Johns Hopkins Hospital exposes pharmacy students to various practice settings and helps them realize the career opportunities available in health-system pharmacy.     

International Practice Experiences in Pharmacy Education

Objectives. To identify reasons for inclusion of international practice experiences in pharmacy curricula and to understand the related structure, benefits, and challenges related to the programs.Methods. A convenience sample of 20 colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States with international pharmacy education programs was used. Telephone interviews were conducted by 2 study investigators.Results. University values and strategic planning were among key driving forces in the development of programs. Global awareness and cultural competency requirements added impetus to program development. Participants’ advice for creating an international practice experience program included an emphasis on the value of working with university health professions programs and established travel programs.Conclusion. Despite challenges, colleges and schools of pharmacy value the importance of international pharmacy education for pharmacy students as it increases global awareness of health needs and cultural competencies.     

An elective course to promote academic pharmacy as a career

Objective. To implement and assess an elective course that engages pharmacy students’ interest in and directs them toward a career in academia.Design. A blended-design elective that included online and face-to-face components was offered to first through third-year pharmacy studentsAssessment. Students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward academic pharmacy were measured by pre- and post-course assessments, online quizzes, personal journal entries, course assignments, and exit interviews. The elective course promoting academic pharmacy as a profession was successful and provided students with an awareness about another career avenue to consider upon graduation. The students demonstrated mastery of the course content.Conclusions. Students agreed that the elective course on pharmacy teaching and learning was valuable and that they would recommend it to their peers. Forty percent responded that after completing the course, they were considering academic pharmacy as a career.     

Developing Health Literacy Knowledge and Skills Through Case-Based Learning

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of case-based learning to teach pharmacy students health literacy concepts and skills in managing patients with limited health literacy.Design. A health literacy patient case was developed and incorporated into a case-based learning laboratory. The case involved a patient with limited health literacy and required students to evaluate and formulate a care plan.Assessment. A comparison of pretest and posttest scores demonstrated that students gained health literacy knowledge and skills through completion of the patient case. Students believed that the case-based exercise was successful in meeting specific learning objectives for the course.Conclusions. Addition of a case-based learning was effective in teaching pharmacy students health literacy concepts and skills.     

Using Team-based Learning in an Endocrine Module Taught Across Two Campuses

Objectives

To implement a team-based learning (TBL) format in an endocrine module to promote students'' active learning in a course delivered to 2 campuses.

Methods

Course lectures were transformed into 13 TBL sessions consisting of content pre-assignments (self-directed learning), in-class readiness assurance tests (accountability), and team problem solving of patient cases and faculty-led class discussion (knowledge application). Student performance was evaluated through multiple assessments during the TBL sessions and on unit examinations. Students evaluated each individual TBL session and the course as a whole.

Results

Course grades were higher using the TBL method compared to the traditional lecture-based method that was used previously. Individual readiness assurance tests and team contribution scores significantly predicted overall course grades (p<0.001). Students accepted the change in course format as indicated by course evaluation results.

Conclusions

TBL is an effective active-learning, instructional strategy for courses with large student-to-faculty ratios and distance education environments.     

A Medical Outreach Elective Course

Objective. To design and implement a Medical Outreach Experience elective course and assess its impact on students’ level of confidence in organizing future medical outreach trips, providing population-specific pharmaceutical care, and achieving learning outcomes.Design. A 2-credit hour elective course was designed for second- and third-year pharmacy students. The course was structured to include 3 sections over 1 semester, a 10-week training and preparation phase, followed by a weeklong international outreach experience and post-outreach reflection.Assessment. Student achievement of curricular outcomes was measured using in-class activities, readings, reflections, and longitudinal projects, as well as performance during the outreach trip. Results from pre- and post-course surveys demonstrated significant improvement in student-rated confidence in several components of outreach trip organization and provision of pharmaceutical care.Conclusions. Students completing the course exhibited increased confidence in their abilities to organize and practice on a medical outreach trip. All students met the learning outcomes of the course, which included providing comprehensive patient-specific pharmaceutical care, communicating effectively, promoting health improvement and self-care, thinking critically, and appropriately managing and using resources of the healthcare system. Students agreed that the elective course was a valuable addition to the curriculum.     

An Elective Course in Aromatherapy Science

Objective. To evaluate the impact of an innovative team-taught elective course on second-year (P2) students’ knowledge and skills relating to the relationship between aromatherapy and pharmacy.Design. An Aromatherapy Science elective course was offered to P2 students in an accelerated doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree program and was designed to provide an elective course experience while focusing on active-learning skills such as group work, student-led presentations, and in-class activities. Lectures were designed to reinforce core curricular threads from the basic sciences within the pharmaceutical sciences department while highlighting key aromatherapy principles.Assessment. Course evaluations, grades, and student self-assessments were used to evaluate student fulfillment and knowledge gained. Students agreed this hands-on course integrated pharmaceutical science experiences, enriched their pharmacy education, and provided knowledge to enhance their confidence in describing essential oil uses, drug interactions, and key aromatherapy clinical implications.Conclusion. Students agreed this course prepared them to identify essential oil therapeutic uses and potential essential oil-drug interactions, and interpret literature. The introduction of aromatherapy principles to pharmacy students will prepare a new generation of healthcare professionals on the role of alternative medicines.     

The impact of team-based learning on a foundational pharmacokinetics course

Objective. To assess the impact of team-based learning (TBL) in a foundational pharmacokinetics course.Design. The course was arranged into 5 modules based on the TBL format. Each module contained preclass preparation; readiness-assurance process; and in-class, clinical cases. Survey instruments on professionalism and attitudes of team learning were administered pre- and post-course.Assessment. Examination grades focused at the evaluation/creation level were significantly higher in the TBL format compared with the previous year. Professionalism scores increased over the course of the semester, particularly in altruism and honesty. Other measures of team-learning attitudes significantly increased over time, although there was no change in major subscales. End-of-semester course evaluations showed improvements in active engagement and in various areas of skill development.Conclusion. The TBL format can be used successfully in a foundational pharmacokinetics course to increase higher levels of learning, team-learning skills, and professionalism in pharmacy students.     

A Motivational Interviewing Course for Pharmacy Students

Objective

To create, implement, and evaluate a pharmacy course on motivational interviewing.

Design

A 3-hour elective course was created to train doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students in brief patient-centered motivational interviewing counseling strategies that have proven effective with the types of health issues most commonly addressed in pharmacy settings. Students were assisted in developing their skills through required readings, interactive lectures, in-class demonstrations and practice sessions, out of class skills practice, one-on-one supervision provided by doctoral level clinical health psychology students, and written reflections on each class session.

Assessment

Students demonstrated significant improvement in motivational interviewing skills and a high level of motivation for and confidence in using these skills in their future practice. Students overall assessment of the course and supervision process was highly positive.

Conclusion

This patient-centered counseling skills course was feasible and produced improvements in PharmD students'' counseling skills and increased their motivation and confidence to use motivational interviewing skills in their future communications with patients.     

Best Practices for Implementing Team-Based Learning in Pharmacy Education

Colleges and schools of pharmacy are incorporating more team-based learning (TBL) into their curriculum. Published resources are available to assist instructors with implementing TBL and describing it in the health professions literature. The 7 core elements include: team formation, readiness assurance, immediate feedback, sequencing of in-class problem solving, the 4 “S” structure for developing team application exercises (significant problem, same problem, specific answer choice, simultaneous reporting), incentive structure, and peer evaluation. This paper summarizes best practices related to implementation of TBL in pharmacy education, including courses taught using teaching teams.     

Peer- and self-grading compared to faculty grading

Objectives. To determine the reliability and value of peer- and self -reported evaluations in the grading of pharmacy students.Methods. Mean student peer- and self- reported grades were compared to faculty grades in the advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) and seminar presentation courses. Responses from pharmacy school alumni regarding curricular peer- and self-reported evaluations were solicited using an online survey tool.Results. Self-reported student grades were lower than the faculty-reported grade overall and for the formal presentation component of the APPE course grading rubric. Self-reported grades were no different than faculty-reported grades for the seminar course. Students graded their peers higher than did faculty members for both the seminar and APPE courses on all components of the grading rubric. The majority of pharmacy alumni conducted peer- and self-evaluations (64% and 85%, respectively) at least annually and considered peer- and self-evaluations useful in assessing students’ work in group projects, oral presentations, and professional skills.Conclusion. The combination of self-, peer-, and faculty-assessments using a detailed grading rubric offers an opportunity to meet accreditation standards and better prepare pharmacy students for their professional careers.