Integrating social determinants into pharmacotherapy courses: A case-based learning approach.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Health Disparities
• Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

Background:

• Social determinants of health significantly impact patient outcomes, necessitating their integration into healthcare.
• Traditional pharmacy education often overlooks sociocultural contexts, focusing primarily on clinical parameters.
• Pharmacists require specific knowledge and skills to address SDOH effectively in patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop patient cases for pharmacy curricula that incorporate social determinants of health (SDOH).
• To train pharmacy students to concurrently consider clinical and social factors in patient management.
• To enhance the delivery of holistic and responsive patient care through integrated education.

Main Methods:

• Eleven pharmacists and educators collaborated in three workgroups.
• Ten patient cases were developed for pharmacotherapy courses (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health).
• Cases were piloted with fourth-year students in advanced pharmacy practice experiences.

Main Results:

• Case developers and students provided positive feedback on the utility of the integrated cases.
• The developed cases effectively demonstrated the integration of SDOH into patient scenarios.
• Students gained opportunities to build competencies in addressing SDOH.

Conclusions:

• Integrating SDOH into pharmacy patient cases is crucial for comprehensive education.
• This approach equips future pharmacists with the skills for holistic patient care.
• The developed cases serve as a valuable tool for teaching the impact of SDOH in pharmacy practice.