An oncology pharmacy practice elective course for third-year pharmacy students.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Oncology Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Pharmacy curricula often lack specialized oncology training.
• There is a growing need for pharmacists skilled in oncology patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a 1-credit-hour oncology pharmacy practice elective.
• To evaluate the elective's impact on student performance in a core pharmacotherapeutics course.

Main Methods:

• Course content focused on therapeutic management, supportive care, and psychosocial aspects of oncology.
• Learning was assessed via examinations, reflection posts, and a service-learning project.
• Student examination scores in the pharmacotherapeutics course were compared between those who took the elective and those who did not.

Main Results:

• Students who completed the oncology pharmacy elective achieved higher scores on the oncology section of the pharmacotherapeutics examination.
• The elective course demonstrated a positive impact on student learning outcomes in oncology pharmacotherapeutics.
• Enrollment in the elective course has steadily increased since its inception.

Conclusions:

• The oncology pharmacy elective course is effective in enhancing student knowledge and performance.
• The course positively influences students' interest in pursuing oncology pharmacy.
• The elective provides valuable training for future oncology practitioners and is recommended for continued offering.