Pharmacy Student Challenges and Strategies towards Initial COVID-19 Curriculum Changes

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Online Learning
• Student Wellbeing

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid transition to virtual learning in higher education.
• Tertiary institutions encountered significant challenges in adapting curricula and delivery methods.
• Pharmacy programs faced unique hurdles in maintaining practical training and student engagement virtually.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the challenges faced by pharmacy students during COVID-19 related curriculum changes.
• To identify adaptive strategies employed by pharmacy students in a virtual learning environment.
• To understand the impact of virtual learning on pharmacy students' academic performance, emotional wellbeing, and resilience.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of student written reflections and prompted responses from March-May 2020.
• Data collected from four year levels at a single school of pharmacy.
• Inductive coding by five researchers using NVivo 12 with inter-rater reliability checks.

Main Results:

• Key challenges identified included negative emotional responses and communication barriers during virtual learning.
• Primary adaptive strategies involved utilizing new technologies and effective time management.
• Student experiences varied across year levels, highlighting diverse impacts of the transition.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacy students encountered significant emotional and communication challenges adapting to virtual education during COVID-19.
• Developing technological proficiency and time management skills were crucial for successful adaptation.
• Findings inform educational institutions on providing targeted support to enhance student resilience and wellbeing during crises.