A Blended Learning Approach to Teaching Medication Use and Perspectives on Spirituality in Pharmacy Practice

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Healthcare Spirituality
• Blended Learning Models

Background:

• Spirituality plays an increasingly recognized role in patient care and medication adherence.
• Pharmacists require specific training to address patients' spiritual and religious needs effectively.
• Current pharmacy curricula may lack comprehensive modules on spirituality in practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pharmacy students' competence in recognizing and addressing spiritual issues in patient interactions.
• To assess students' perspectives on the integration of spirituality into pharmacy practice through a blended learning strategy.
• To measure changes in students' empathic perspective-taking, multicultural self-efficacy, and openness to religious/spiritual diversity.

Main Methods:

• A blended learning curriculum incorporating online preclass videos, interactive lectures, and simulated patient counseling sessions was implemented.
• Student proficiency was assessed via a simulated counseling session evaluated with a rubric.
• Anonymous electronic surveys measured students' perspectives on spirituality in pharmacy practice, analyzed using paired-sample t tests and Cohen's d for effect sizes.
• Qualitative content analysis was used for optional student reflection assignments.

Main Results:

• Students achieved a high mean score (94.8%) in simulated counseling, indicating strong skills in identifying spiritual concerns.
• Statistically significant improvements were observed across all perspective scales, with the largest gains in empathic perspective-taking.
• Students reported increased confidence in preparing for pharmacy practice and valued authentic patient experiences.
• Key learning themes included individualized care, respect for diverse beliefs, and understanding medication restrictions.

Conclusions:

• The blended learning approach effectively improved pharmacy students' skills in counseling patients on medication-related spiritual needs.
• Students reported enhanced empathy and a greater appreciation for addressing spiritual considerations in patient care.
• This educational model demonstrates potential for preparing future pharmacists to provide holistic, patient-centered care.