Pharmacy Stories: Creating a digital learning platform on pharmacy history
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2026.261.330338Keywords:
History of pharmacy, Online education, Online learning, Pharmacy educationAbstract
Background: Norwegian pharmacy students seem to be taught less pharmacy history than other European students. Historical insight is essential for understanding our current professional challenges. However, there is a lack of appropriate educational tools to give students vital insights into pharmacists' experiences of their professional role and function in society over time. The aim of this study is to establish a digital learning platform on pharmacy history accessible to all pharmacy departments in Norway.
Methods: Video- and audio recordings and images from interviews with 33 elderly pharmacists were analysed. The emerging themes were categorised and further developed into learning modules on a digital learning platform (Canvas), accompanied by suitable video/audio clippings from the interviews. Additional learning resources and assignments were incorporated.
Results: Six learning modules with associated subthemes were developed. The modules were: 1) Pharmacy and the pharmacist, 2) Medicines and medicine use, 3) The medication user, 4) Legislation, 5) Global health and emergency preparedness, and 6) Pharmaceutical research. The subthemes include, e.g. Drug shortage, Ethics in pharmacy, Pharmaceutical information and Pharmacy legislations.
Conclusion: A digital learning platform which accommodates the dissemination of real-world stories from pharmacists to today’s pharmacy students and academic staff is established. This work is done in collaboration between five Departments of pharmacy in Norway.
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