Educational Games as a Teaching Tool in Pharmacy Curriculum.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Educational Strategies

Background:

• The role of pharmacists has expanded beyond dispensing to include pharmaceutical care and drug therapy management.
• Pharmacy curricula have shifted towards clinical and integrated courses, necessitating advanced competencies and specialized skills.
• Active-learning strategies are crucial for developing essential interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills in pharmacy graduates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the adoption and implementation of educational games in pharmacy schools.
• To provide educators with guidance on replicating successful educational games.
• To identify and address deficiencies and pitfalls in the use of educational games in pharmacy education.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive review of educational games utilized in various pharmacy educational settings.
• Analysis of successful game implementations and identification of common challenges.
• Synthesis of findings to offer practical recommendations for educators.

Main Results:

• Educational games are increasingly adopted as an active-learning strategy in pharmacy education.
• Successful games enhance student engagement and skill development.
• Common pitfalls include resource limitations, integration challenges, and assessment difficulties.

Conclusions:

• Educational games represent a valuable tool for enhancing pharmacy education and preparing graduates for expanded roles.
• Further research and development are needed to optimize the design and implementation of educational games.
• Sharing best practices and addressing identified pitfalls can improve the effectiveness of educational games in pharmacy curricula.