In a doctoral pharmacy course, student pairs were assigned presentations on topics related to specific anemias or blood disorders, and given one-and-a-half hours to present the material, with posters as visual aids, and to answer questions. The method is seen as promoting active learning, critical thinking, and professional presentation skills,…

Describes a University of the Pacific (California) biomedical informatics center that promotes student use of informatics for doctoral courses, facilitates course-related hands-on information seeking, encourages graduate and faculty use of information technology, and is self-supporting. Discusses organization, benefits, and problems encountered,…

Evaluated a practice-site learning experience for 55 doctoral pharmacy students, using student logs and written summaries and pre- and post-experience surveys concerning student awareness, understanding, and mastery of desired outcomes. Students indicated increased awareness and understanding of desired outcomes, and found patient interaction…

Over 200 pharmacy students in a University of Georgia class on the American health care system engaged in debates on health care issues, discussed newspaper articles, conducted client home visits, analyzed county health statistics, and completed exercises on pharmacists' compensation and health care planning. Most participating students responded…

Describes the use of three case studies, on computer, to enhance problem solving and critical thinking among doctoral pharmacy students in a physical chemistry course. Students are expected to use specific computer programs, spreadsheets, electronic mail, molecular graphics, word processing, online literature searching, and other computer-based…

A survey of 55 pharmacy schools found that of those offering a pharmacy doctoral program, three-fourths had a separate course devoted to physical assessment of patients, most offered in the third professional year. Most require students to demonstrate use of stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, ophthalmo-otoscope, tuning fork, reflex hammer. Reasons for…

A survey of 57 pharmacy school deans found less than half of the schools had honor codes, and revealed no clear consensus on definition of academic misconduct or solutions. The existing honor codes varied in structure and reflected a wide range of procedures. Respondents identified some shortcomings and strengths of their programs. Seven colleges…

A survey of 130 rural community pharmacists in Washington State found 70% in towns with five or fewer pharmacies; almost all provided nutrition information to their communities though only 20% had taken a nutrition course during pharmacy training. Most common questions concerned supplements and weight loss. Respondents relied on pharmacy journals,…

A new pharmacy course developed at Northeast Louisiana University School of Pharmacy trains pharmacy students in use of herbs as self-selected over-the-counter products. Emphases are on use of herbal preparations by the general public as alternative therapies, safety and efficacy of herbs and other phytomedicinals, and the pharmacist's role in…

Describes development, implementation, and evaluation of a computer-assisted instructional (CAI) program in advanced (doctoral) pharmacotherapeutics at the University of Georgia. All students found the CAI a valuable learning experience and felt it enhanced patient-problem solving skills, but felt it should supplement, not replace, traditional…

Laboratory portions of courses in pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical analysis at the Medical University of South Carolina are integrated and coordinated to provide feedback on student performance in compounding medications. Students analyze the products they prepare, with early exposure to compendia requirements and other references. Student…

A Finnish study investigated the response of practicing pharmacists to a radio series on safe use of medicines and cognitive changes from use of three taped radio programs for in-house training at 22 large pharmacies. Despite positive attitudes toward continuing education via radio, readiness to participate was modest among pharmacy personnel.…

Describes activities and recommendations of the Association of American Colleges of Pharmacy concerning future needs in pharmaceutical education. Focus is on status of and trends in health care change, advancing the process of curriculum development, teaching and learning processes, the role of experiential learning, practitioner education, and…

Areas in which pharmacy educators and practitioners can collaborate to hasten pharmacy curriculum development are outlined, including: state and regional centers for operationalizing the pharmaceutical care concept; training, formal resource programs for pharmacists; research advisory boards; public education; links with medical community;…

Discusses the role of classroom research in scholarship concerning learning and teaching at the college level. Identifies a shift from assessment for accountability to assessment for improvement to attention to roles of college faculty. Shows how use of classroom assessment techniques as part of a classroom research program can immediately improve…