The Impact of Elective Active-Learning Courses in Pregnancy/Lactation and Pediatric Pharmacotherapy

Abstract

Objective. To implement and evaluate the impact of 2 elective courses, Pregnancy & Lactation and Pediatrics on student acquisition of knowledge and development of lifelong learning skills related to these special populations. Design. Two 3-credit elective courses were implemented using various student-driven learning techniques, such as case-based exercises, group presentations, pro-con debates, and pharmacist "grab bag" questions. Strong emphasis was placed on medication literature retrieval and analysis, and a wiki was used to create an electronic resource for longitudinal use. Assessment. Pre-and post-course tests showed significant improvement in knowledge related to pregnancy, lactation, and pediatrics. Pre-and post-course confidence and ratings on satisfaction survey tools also revealed significant improvement in several domains relating to lifelong-learning skills, knowledge related to medication use within these special populations, use of technology to enhance learning, and overall course design. Conclusion. The combination of student-directed learning techniques used in 2 pediatric-concentration courses is an effective teaching model.

Sequência De Ensino-Aprendizagem Em Farmácia: Metodologia Ativa Com O Tema Perfume

“…Na busca de mudanças vários cursos da área da saúde têm implementado estratégias visando novas metodologias para o binômio ensino-aprendizagem. No campo farmacêutico, muitas iniciativas têm despontado na articulação de novas estratégias de ensino (MITRE et al, 2008;BERMOND, 2008;ZAMPIERI, 2010;CAMPBELL et al, 2012;ELLIOTT;KOERNER;HEASLEY, 2012;LIMBERGER, 2013;ROCHA, 2013, BRASIL, 2014.…”

Incorporating Active-Learning Techniques and Competency Assessment into a Critical Care Elective Course

“…[17][18][19] In the pharmacy literature, several reports describe successful use of active-learning strategies covering a wide variety of subject matter including pediatric pharmacotherapy, 20 women's health, 21 nutrition, 22 cardiology, 23 and integration of clinical and basic sciences, 24 among others. In designing this elective course in critical care, faculty members sought to incorporate active learning in the form of cooperative learning as the principal method of content delivery.…”

Recommendations for Meeting the Pediatric Patient's Need for a Clinical Pharmacist: A Joint Opinion of the Pediatrics Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group

“…An elective course in pediatric pharmacotherapy should be available to all interested student pharmacists to provide in‐depth knowledge of treatment for a variety of common pediatric disease states such as hematologic and oncologic, genetic, and metabolic conditions. Published descriptions of pediatric pharmacy elective courses are available to guide schools in course development, including a recent paper that documented statistically significant increases on examination scores in students enrolled in the elective course compared with their peers who received only the pediatric content provided in the required curricula . Where university resources are limited, collaboration and sharing of knowledge among schools of pharmacy, schools of medicine, and nursing and pediatric clinical pharmacists in clinical practice, is highly encouraged.…”