Clinical pharmacy curriculum development in Norway: Pharmacists’ expectations in the context of current European developments
Written by: T. Loennechen, S. Hudson, S. McKellar, R. Lind • March 1 2007• Volume 7 - Issue 1•Abstract
Introduction: The inclusion of patient-centred teaching into the “core curriculum” of the pharmacist’s basic education is varied throughout Europe. While clinical pharmacy is taught in an integrated way within the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum at the University of Tromsø, its relationship to the delivery of pharmaceutical care requires to be developed. This study explored the perceptions of pharmacists in Norway about pharmacy undergraduate curriculum change.
Methods: A general questionnaire was sent to 100 registered Norwegian pharmacists. The views of respondents were used along with tape recorded interviews (with six individual pharmacists and one group of seven) to design a specific questionnaire issued to 89 Tromsø Master of Pharmacy graduates (1999–2003).
Results and conclusion: The response rate to the general questionnaire was 63% and to the specific questionnaire 42%. The findings showed strong preferences for joint teaching with medical students; teaching from pharmacist practitioners; the imparting of problem solving skills through group work; the use of real patient case studies; and early contact with role models including community pharmacists. The investigation supports the curriculum changes, we have made to develop clinical pharmacy at the University of Tromsø. The study has identified the potential for improvement including joint teaching with medical students.
Introduction: The inclusion of patient-centred teaching into the “core curriculum” of the pharmacist’s basic education is varied throughout Europe. While clinical pharmacy is taught in an integrated way within the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum at the University of Tromsø, its relationship to the delivery of pharmaceutical care requires to be developed. This study explored the perceptions of pharmacists in Norway about pharmacy undergraduate curriculum change.
Methods: A general questionnaire was sent to 100 registered Norwegian pharmacists. The views of respondents were used along with tape recorded interviews (with six individual pharmacists and one group of seven) to design a specific questionnaire issued to 89 Tromsø Master of Pharmacy graduates (1999–2003).
Results and conclusion: The response rate to the general questionnaire was 63% and to the specific questionnaire 42%. The findings showed strong preferences for joint teaching with medical students; teaching from pharmacist practitioners; the imparting of problem solving skills through group work; the use of real patient case studies; and early contact with role models including community pharmacists. The investigation supports the curriculum changes, we have made to develop clinical pharmacy at the University of Tromsø. The study has identified the potential for improvement including joint teaching with medical students.
