Drug information skills for pharmacy students: curriculum integration

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Health Sciences Librarianship
• Drug Information Science

Background:

• Developing drug information skills is crucial for pharmacy students to deliver comprehensive pharmaceutical care.
• The University of Southern California's School of Pharmacy and Norris Medical Library collaborate on an educational initiative.
• This program addresses the need for advanced information literacy in pharmacy practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an interactive educational program designed to enhance drug information skills for pharmacy students.
• To outline the systematic integration of librarians into the doctor of pharmacy curriculum.
• To detail the program's evolution, current state, and future directions in a technologically advancing field.

Main Methods:

• Librarians are involved across all four years of the doctor of pharmacy program.
• The curriculum incorporates training in computer literacy and online database searching.
• An interactive educational approach is employed to support information skills development.

Main Results:

• The program systematically supports the progression of information retrieval, evaluation, organization, application, and communication skills.
• Students receive training in essential digital literacy and advanced search techniques.
• The educational model has been in place for a decade, demonstrating sustained relevance.

Conclusions:

• Integrating librarians into pharmacy education is effective for developing critical drug information competencies.
• The program prepares students for the complexities of modern pharmaceutical care and information management.
• Continuous adaptation to technological advancements is key to the program's future success.