Impact of a ‘Research in pharmacy’ course on students’ self-reported competence and confidence to conduct research: Findings from a Malaysian university

Authors

  • Usman Abubakar Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7549-2877
  • Mohamed Hassan Elnaem International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Abdulkareem Mohammed Ahmed PICOMS International University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1180-0172
  • Syahrir Zaini International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Abdul Rahman Fata Nahas International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Siti Hadijah Shamsudin International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.458465

Keywords:

Competence, Confidence, Malaysia, Pharmacy practice research, Pharmacy student

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a ‘Research in Pharmacy’ course on students’ self-reported competence and confidence to plan and conduct pharmacy practice research.

Method: This is a pre- and post-intervention study conducted among third year pharmacy undergraduate students in a public university in Malaysia using an online questionnaire. A ‘Research in pharmacy’ course which encompassed lectures, tutorials, and practical sessions was delivered over a 14-week period. The students were divided into groups and assigned a project supervisor to guide them in planning and conducting a research project that was completed in one term.

Result: Of the 109 students, 69 and 62 completed the questionnaire in the pre- and post-intervention periods, respectively. Students’ interest in conducting research and their interest in learning about research was similar in both periods. However, self-reported ability to conduct research increased significantly. Self-reported competence and confidence to conduct most components of research improved significantly (p<0.05), although, extreme/very competent or confidence level was lower than 50% for most items. Overall, median total competence score (66.0 versus 74.0, p<0.001) and median total confidence score (66.0 versus 71.5, p<0.001) increased significantly after the course. Most students were very satisfied/satisfied with the online lectures (54.8%) and online project supervision (64.6%). Lack of time (61.3%) was the major challenge students encountered during the course.

Conclusion: A ‘Research in pharmacy' course with both didactic and experiential components improved self-reported competence and confidence to plan and conduct research among pharmacy undergraduate students. Future studies should investigate the facilitators and barriers to students’ interest in pharmacy practice research.

Author Biographies

Usman Abubakar, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia

Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Mohamed Hassan Elnaem, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kulliyah of Pharmacy

Abdulkareem Mohammed Ahmed, PICOMS International University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Faculty of Pharmacy

Syahrir Zaini, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kulliyah of Pharmacy

Abdul Rahman Fata Nahas, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kulliyah of Pharmacy

Siti Hadijah Shamsudin, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kulliyah of Pharmacy

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Published

28-05-2022

How to Cite

Abubakar, U., Elnaem, M. H., Ahmed, A. M., Zaini, S., Fata Nahas, A. R., & Shamsudin, S. H. (2022). Impact of a ‘Research in pharmacy’ course on students’ self-reported competence and confidence to conduct research: Findings from a Malaysian university . Pharmacy Education, 22(1), p. 458–465. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.458465

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Section

Research Article