SODAPOP: A Metacognitive Mnemonic Framework to Teach Antimicrobial Selection

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Medical Education
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Mnemonics are crucial in medical education for information management and systematic problem-solving.
• Effective antimicrobial selection is a complex challenge in veterinary clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce SODAPOP, a metacognitive mnemonic designed to guide veterinary students in optimal antimicrobial selection.
• To assess veterinary students' perception of SODAPOP and its impact on confidence levels.

Main Methods:

• SODAPOP framework: Source, Organism, Decide to treat, Antimicrobials, Patient contraindications, Options, Plan.
• A preliminary study evaluated student perceptions and confidence following exposure to the SODAPOP mnemonic.

Main Results:

• Veterinary students reported favorable perceptions of the SODAPOP mnemonic.
• Exposure to SODAPOP was associated with improved student confidence in clinical decision-making.

Conclusions:

• SODAPOP offers a structured approach to antimicrobial selection in veterinary education.
• Further research is warranted to validate SODAPOP's efficacy in improving actual antimicrobial selection outcomes.
• SODAPOP aligns with competency-based veterinary education frameworks and can be integrated across the curriculum.