An active learning complementary and alternative medicine session in a self-care therapeutics class

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Pharmacy Education
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Background:

• Pharmacy curricula increasingly incorporate self-care and patient-centered therapeutic approaches.
• Understanding of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is essential for pharmacists to provide comprehensive patient care.
• Traditional didactic methods may not fully convey the practical aspects and benefits of CAM modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and assess an interactive, non-supplement-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) session within a self-care therapeutics course.
• To evaluate the impact of this active learning session on pharmacy students' knowledge and perceptions of CAM.
• To determine the effectiveness of experiential learning in preparing students to discuss CAM with patients.

Main Methods:

• Second-year pharmacy students participated in a required Self-Care Therapeutics course.
• An active learning session involved hands-on engagement with five CAM modalities: massage therapy, Tai Chi, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and Reiki.
• Student knowledge was assessed via written exams and readiness assurance tests (iRAT, tRAT); perceptions were measured through pre- and post-session surveys.

Main Results:

• The active learning CAM session significantly increased students' knowledge of various CAM practices.
• Post-session surveys indicated a positive shift in students' perceptions regarding the utility and integration of CAM.
• Assessment scores demonstrated improved concept mastery following the experiential learning module.

Conclusions:

• Intensive, active learning experiences in CAM enhance pharmacy students' knowledge base.
• Experiential learning is an effective strategy for improving students' understanding and envisioning the incorporation of CAM into patient therapies.
• This approach better prepares future pharmacists to address patient inquiries and integrate CAM considerations into practice.