Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
13:44
Project-Based Learning Guidelines for Health Sciences Students: An Analysis with Data Mining and Qualitative Techniques
Published on: December 9, 2022
Pharmacy student focus groups for formative evaluation of the learning environment
Victoria Mundy Bhavsar1, Eleanora Bird, Heidi M Anderson
1University of Kentucky Teaching and Academic Support Center, USA.
American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
|May 30, 2007
Summary
Student focus groups effectively improve communication in pharmacy colleges. However, enhancing feedback channels and faculty response is crucial for optimizing the learning environment and student development.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Education
- Educational Assessment
- Qualitative Research Methods
Background:
- Formative evaluation is essential for enhancing academic environments.
- Student feedback mechanisms are vital for continuous improvement in higher education.
- The learning environment in colleges of pharmacy requires ongoing assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a student focus group process for formative evaluation.
- To assess the effectiveness of student focus groups in a college of pharmacy.
- To identify challenges and successes in implementing student feedback initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Student focus groups convened over four academic years (2002-2006).
- Surveys were administered to student cohorts (first- through third-professional years) in Spring 2005.
- Anecdotal evidence regarding the focus group process was collected from faculty members.
Main Results:
- A majority of students (59%-87%) found focus groups facilitated effective communication with faculty.
- Key issues included limited communication between focus group members and the broader student body.
- Faculty noted the process supported student development but was less impactful for pedagogical improvements.
Conclusions:
- Student focus groups offer a viable method for feedback on the learning environment.
- Effective implementation requires training students in providing constructive feedback.
- Faculty support in responding to student input is essential for success.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching III: Evaluation and Documentation
Evaluation of the teaching process enables the nurse to determine if the patient's learning needs were met and if training was effective. If the expected outcomes are not met, the care plan is revised, and additional education or reinforcement is provided. Nurses can ask questions after the session or obtain feedback to assess the patient's understanding of the topic.
Nurses can use several methods to evaluate patient outcomes. For example, oral questions can assess cognitive learning, patient...
Nurses can use several methods to evaluate patient outcomes. For example, oral questions can assess cognitive learning, patient...
01:26Drug Administration and Therapy Phases: Overview
Drugs, the chemical agents used in diagnosing, treating, or preventing diseases, undergo a four-phase process of development: pharmaceutic, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and therapeutic.
The pharmaceutical phase focuses on leveraging the physicochemical properties of the drug to design and manufacture an effective product. Variants include orally administered tablets or capsules, topical creams or ointments, and parenteral-delivery solutions or emulsions.
The pharmacokinetic phase...
The pharmaceutical phase focuses on leveraging the physicochemical properties of the drug to design and manufacture an effective product. Variants include orally administered tablets or capsules, topical creams or ointments, and parenteral-delivery solutions or emulsions.
The pharmacokinetic phase...
01:27Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Polymorphic Form-Related and Particle Size-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence
Changes in polymorphic forms can significantly influence the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. Although the FDA defines pharmaceutical equivalence based on having the same active ingredient, dosage form, and route of administration, it does not automatically disqualify products with different polymorphic forms. This means two products with different polymorphs can still be deemed pharmaceutically equivalent. However, polymorphic differences can affect properties like wettability,...
01:15Nursing Evaluation
The evaluation stage signals the end of the nursing process. The nurse gathers evaluative data to assess whether or not the patient has attained the expected results. Whereas the nurse collects data in the nursing assessment to identify the patient's health concerns, the evaluation stage data determines if the indicated health issues are resolved. Evaluative data collection includes two sections: the data acquired to evaluate patient outcomes and the time criteria for data collection.
Section...
Section...
01:22Biopharmaceutical Factors Influencing Drug Product Design: Overview
Rational drug product design integrates knowledge of the drug’s physicochemical properties, formulation components, manufacturing techniques, and intended route of administration. Each factor influences the drug’s performance, including how it is released, absorbed, and eliminated in the body.The physicochemical properties of a drug—such as solubility, stability, and particle size—affect its compatibility with excipients and the choice of dosage form. Excipients, though pharmacologically...
01:28Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics: Overview
Understanding drugs, drug products, and their performance in pharmaceutical science is pivotal. Drugs, whether simple molecules or complex compounds, are designed to interact with the body's biological systems to diagnose, treat, or prevent diseases. Drug products include various delivery systems such as tablets, capsules, injections, and inhalers. The performance of these drug products is gauged by their ability to deliver the active ingredient to the desired site of action at the appropriate...