Teaching Autonomic Cardiovascular Pharmacology to Medical Students: An Innovative Worksheet Approach

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pharmacology
• Physiology

Background:

• Autonomic (ANS) pharmacology is crucial for medical education but presents learning challenges.
• Students often struggle with understanding cardiovascular (CV) ANS pharmacology.
• A need exists for innovative learning tools to improve comprehension and confidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a student-created worksheet and self-assessment tool for learning CV ANS pharmacology.
• To determine the impact of this tool on student confidence and learning outcomes.
• To assess the usefulness and adoption rate of the supplemental learning tool.

Main Methods:

• A supplemental worksheet and self-assessment tool were developed for first-year medical students.
• Students used the tool to visualize the effects of ANS drugs on heart rate and blood pressure.
• Usage, confidence, and usefulness were assessed via voluntary surveys; exam results were compared to a control group.

Main Results:

• Over 50% of the class utilized the worksheet and self-assessment tool.
• Significant increases in student self-confidence regarding CV ANS pharmacology were observed.
• Students using the tool demonstrated improved performance on relevant course exam questions compared to the previous year's cohort.

Conclusions:

• The innovative worksheet and self-assessment tool show promise for enhancing learning in CV ANS pharmacology.
• This approach can significantly boost student confidence and improve measurable learning outcomes.
• Supplemental, student-driven tools can be effective in addressing specific curriculum challenges.