Impact of Novel Tools for Blended and Competency-Based Learning in Veterinary Compounding and Prescribing

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pharmacy Education
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Continuing Veterinary Education

Background:

• Veterinary graduates must competently prescribe and dispense medications per EAEVE guidelines.
• German veterinary education emphasizes practical dispensing and compounding due to in-practice pharmacies.
• The study addresses the need for improved first-day skills in veterinary compounding and prescribing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of active learning strategies on veterinary students' compounding and prescribing skills.
• To assess learning outcomes and grades over five years (2019-2023), encompassing pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic teaching.
• To determine the effectiveness of blended learning, online resources, and case-based approaches.

Main Methods:

• Implemented blended learning, flipped classrooms, and online resources for compounding and prescribing.
• Utilized cloud-based documents for prescription practice.
• Assessed student performance and grades through pre-pandemic, remote, and in-person teaching phases.
• Introduced case-based learning and quizzes to enhance learning outcomes.

Main Results:

• Online compounding tutorials significantly improved student performance during the pandemic.
• Introduction of cloud-based prescription exercises in 2021 led to better results.
• Overall grades in pharmaceutical and narcotics law improved significantly since 2020.
• Blended and case-based learning tools positively impacted all outcomes and were well-received by students.
• Student performance declined upon return to in-person teaching until quiz-based extra points were added.

Conclusions:

• Active learning strategies, particularly blended and case-based approaches, enhance veterinary students' prescribing and compounding skills.
• Online learning resources proved effective, especially during remote teaching periods.
• Continuous adaptation of teaching methods, including incorporating quizzes, is crucial for sustained academic success in veterinary pharmaceutical education.