An Approach to the Profession Pharmaceutics Course Development as Changes in the 21st Century

Abstract

An approach to curriculum modification in the field of pharmaceutics is presented in this paper. Pharmaceutical education is gradually heading toward a new direction. With the emergence of the pharmaceutical care concept, modern day pharmacists are responsible for serving a multifarious role in patient-care management, often in a collaborative setting. Pharmacy schools are now required to meet revised accreditation standards mandated by the national pharmacy organizations, which direct them to train students to be competent in making judgments and therapeutic decisions by developing their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This requires the integration of knowledge and a practical approach to education. Pharmaceutical science teachers therefore need to emphasize not only scientific principles that provide fundamentals to their students, but also the relevance of science to practice and pharmaceutical care. An approach is presented here for re-designing the pharmaceutics course sequence so that it meets student practice-based develops for the scientific rationale behind appreciation pharmaceutics-related therapeutic decisions. A paradigm shift from didactic teaching to more active learning has been implemented by introducing problem-solving exercises and presentations which are targeted to foster peer interaction and professionlism, enhance confidence and sense of direction, and develop critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making skills in students.