Interdisciplinary Subject "Yakugaku Nyumon" for First-year Students Constructed with Lectures and Problem-based...

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Education
• Pharmacy Curriculum Development

Background:

• Kobe Pharmaceutical University introduced an interdisciplinary course, "Yakugaku Nyumon," in 2013.
• The course integrates omnibus lectures with problem-based learning (PBL) covering basic to clinical pharmacy subjects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of question-led problem-based learning (Q-PBL) in enhancing student learning.
• To assess student motivation, comprehension of basic and clinical sciences, and communication skills.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of Q-PBL with original themes, such as "Study from package inserts of aspirin" and "Let's think about aspirin derivatives."
• Q-PBL involved assignments, small group discussions (SGD), presentations, and peer feedback.
• Student feedback was gathered through questionnaire surveys.

Main Results:

• Students reported high satisfaction with the Q-PBL approach.
• The Q-PBL successfully achieved its aims: increased study motivation, enhanced understanding of science relations, improved comprehension, and recognition of communication importance.
• Assignments enabled first-year students to tackle complex questions and facilitated engagement for those new to SGD.

Conclusions:

• The integration of omnibus lectures and Q-PBL, with refined themes and processes, significantly enhances learning efficacy.
• Q-PBL, particularly with preparatory assignments, is a valuable pedagogical tool for pharmaceutical education.