Pharmacy Student Perceptions of a Virtual Pharmacogenomics Activity

Area of Science:

• Pharmacogenomics education
• Pharmacy curriculum development
• Virtual learning environments

Background:

• Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is essential for personalized medicine, guiding drug therapy and dosing.
• The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) mandates PGx content in pharmacy programs.
• Pharmacists require specialized training to effectively utilize PGx data in patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess second-year pharmacy students' perceptions of a pharmacogenomics (PGx) clinical skills lab activity.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual delivery format for the PGx lab activity.
• To gather insights for improving PGx education and nontraditional teaching methodologies in pharmacy schools.

Main Methods:

• A voluntary, anonymous survey was administered to pharmacy students post-completion of the virtual PGx lab.
• Data collection occurred via Samford University's Canvas course management system in Spring 2020.
• The study focused on student feedback regarding the PGx lab activity and its virtual implementation.

Main Results:

• The study gathered student perceptions on the virtual pharmacogenomics (PGx) lab activity.
• Feedback was collected on the transition from a planned synchronous to an asynchronous virtual format.
• Insights were obtained from students who participated in the remote PGx learning experience.

Conclusions:

• Student feedback is vital for refining pharmacogenomics (PGx) lab activities.
• Nontraditional teaching methodologies, including virtual formats, can be effectively used for PGx education.
• This study provides guidance for enhancing PGx training in pharmacy curricula.