A course for developing interprofessional skills in pre-professional honor students using humanities and media

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Humanities
• Interprofessional Education

Background:

• Undergraduate pre-health professional programs often lack dedicated interpersonal skills development.
• Integrating humanities offers a unique approach to cultivate essential soft skills for future healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement an undergraduate honors course for pre-health students.
• To develop interpersonal skills through the use of humanities and diverse media.

Main Methods:

• A 3-credit honors seminar course was developed by pharmacy practice faculty with interdisciplinary input.
• Utilized literature, film, and podcasts to discuss health topics like ethics, patient experiences, and public health.
• Assessed students via assignments, reflective writings, and a formal presentation; employed quasi-experimental design.

Main Results:

• The course was piloted with 22 undergraduate pre-health honors students.
• Pre- and post-course surveys and reflective writings indicated achievement of learning outcomes.
• Post-course evaluations demonstrated positive student perceptions of the course.

Conclusions:

• The course effectively exposed students to humanities and fostered critical thinking about healthcare issues.
• Students began developing crucial interpersonal skills relevant to their future professions.
• The curriculum is adaptable for pharmacy education, aligning with Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Standards.