Pharmacy student perspectives regarding curricular renewal with experiential alignment.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy education
• Experiential learning
• Curriculum development

Background:

• Integrating theoretical knowledge with practical skills is crucial in pharmacy education.
• Mapping curricular content to experiential settings enhances learning outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess pharmacy students' performance and perceptions of mapping curriculum to experiential settings.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of integrating didactic content into practical pharmacy experiences.

Main Methods:

• Students completed course-designed activities during introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs).
• Assignments were verified by preceptors at community or health system pharmacy sites.
• Surveys gathered data on activity completion, patient involvement, and perceived value.

Main Results:

• Students reported successful curricular mapping and perceived value in experiential activities.
• Activities positively impacted student learning and application of knowledge.
• Challenges arose in finding specific patient examples, necessitating structural changes to activities.

Conclusions:

• Curricular mapping to IPPEs was perceived as meaningful and beneficial for student learning.
• Adaptations in activity design are required to ensure all students can successfully complete assignments.
• The study highlights the importance of aligning educational objectives with practical implementation in pharmacy training.