An Artistic Active-Learning Approach to Teaching a Substance Use Disorder Elective Course

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Education
• Medical Humanities

Background:

• Traditional methods may not fully engage all learners in complex subjects like substance use disorders.
• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students require comprehensive understanding of clinical and legal aspects of SUD.
• Innovative teaching strategies are needed to enhance learning and application of SUD knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement an arts-based, multimedia curriculum in a SUD elective for PharmD students.
• To intellectually, visually, physically, and emotionally engage students in SUD education.
• To improve learning and application of clinical and legal SUD topics through creative methods.

Main Methods:

• Developed a two-credit-hour SUD elective course for PharmD students.
• Incorporated diverse artistic modalities: acting, screenwriting, dance, visual arts, creative writing, and escape room challenges.
• Utilized various art forms to explore SUD concepts, clinical applications, and legal considerations.

Main Results:

• Student performance on graded assignments was high.
• Pre- and post-intervention tests for an escape room activity showed a significant score increase from 56.7% to 94.9%.
• Student feedback indicated high engagement, enthusiasm for creative and collaborative activities, and critical thinking development.

Conclusions:

• PharmD students highly rated the interactive, arts-integrated course format.
• Students perceived the learning experience as both educational and enjoyable.
• Encourages pharmacy educators to adopt creative projects to boost student motivation and learning in SUD education.