An active-learning laboratory on immunizations.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Immunization Practice
• Vaccine Knowledge

Background:

• Pharmacy students often require practical training to effectively administer vaccines.
• Existing immunization training may not fully translate to practical knowledge and confidence.
• Active learning strategies can enhance skill acquisition in healthcare education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate an active-learning laboratory activity for teaching pharmacy students about key vaccines.
• To assess the impact of the activity on students' knowledge and confidence regarding influenza, pneumococcal, and shingles vaccines.

Main Methods:

• A laboratory session was designed with six immunization stations, including specialized stations for influenza (pediatrics), pneumococcal, shingles, and anaphylaxis.
• Students completed pre- and post-assessments to measure changes in immunization knowledge and confidence.
• A post-activity evaluation gathered student feedback on the learning experience.

Main Results:

• Despite prior training, pre-assessment scores averaged 56%, indicating a knowledge gap.
• Post-assessment scores significantly improved to 87.4%, demonstrating enhanced understanding.
• Student confidence increased by 18.7% across five assessed areas, with overall positive ratings for the activity.

Conclusions:

• An active-learning laboratory approach effectively improved pharmacy students' immunization knowledge and confidence.
• Simulated real-world experiences in the laboratory reinforced key concepts for influenza, pneumococcal, and shingles vaccines.
• This method offers a valuable strategy for practical vaccine education in pharmacy curricula.