Using a design-based research framework to refine a desirable difficulties activity for sterile compounding in a...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Instructional Design
• Learning Sciences

Background:

• Design-based research (DBR) iteratively refines educational activities within learning environments.
• Desirable difficulties (DD) are intentional challenges promoting deeper learning.
• Sterile compounding education requires effective instructional strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a second iteration of a sterile compounding training module using DBR principles.
• To assess the impact of desirable difficulties on student learning and confidence.
• To identify and refine educational methods for sterile compounding.

Main Methods:

• Doctor of pharmacy students participated in a second iteration of sterile compounding training.
• Training incorporated both mechanical and mathematical desirable difficulties.
• Student confidence and strategic knowledge were assessed via questionnaire.

Main Results:

• A significant majority of students (97.9%) reported increased confidence in sterile compounding skills.
• Student reflections indicated gains in both internal and external strategic knowledge.
• The iterative refinement process proved valuable for improving the educational activity.

Conclusions:

• The refined sterile compounding activity, incorporating DBR and DD, effectively enhanced student confidence and strategic knowledge.
• Instructors plan to continue using DBR for further educational method improvement.
• This DBR approach can be adapted by other institutions to refine diverse educational activities.