Novel Elective Course on Substance Use for Pharmacy Students in Jordan

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Addiction Medicine
• Substance Use Disorders

Background:

• Limited addiction-specific training exists for health profession students.
• The Yale-University of Jordan (UJ) Joint Training Program in Addiction Medicine launched in 2021.
• Addressing the gap in addiction education is crucial for healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop, implement, and evaluate a novel elective course on substance use for pharmacy students in Jordan.
• To assess the feasibility and impact of addiction medicine training.
• To enhance the capacity of Jordanian pharmacists in managing patients with substance use.

Main Methods:

• A 15-week curriculum was designed for final-year pharmacy students.
• Course activities included lectures, joint discussions, and a site visit to an addiction treatment center.
• Pre- and post-assessments measured changes in knowledge and attitudes.

Main Results:

• Knowledge scores increased from 17.9 to 21.1 (out of 30) across 99 students.
• Positive shifts in attitudes towards harm reduction and non-stigmatizing language were observed.
• The course received a high quality-assurance rating (4.20/5.00), exceeding the university average (3.5/5.00).

Conclusions:

• The course successfully enhanced pharmacy students' understanding and attitudes regarding substance use.
• It highlighted the critical role of Jordanian pharmacists in patient management for substance use disorders.
• This initiative provides a foundation for future substance use education in pharmacy programs.