Enhancing Pharmacology Education Through Collaborative Innovation: The Evolution and Future of PRORENATA at an...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pharmacology
• Software Development

Background:

• The Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI MED) integrates an engineering innovation mindset into medical education.
• Incorporating longitudinal pharmacological concepts consistently throughout a medical curriculum presents a significant challenge.
• Existing educational resources may not adequately address the need for integrated pharmacology learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement PRORENATA, a novel web-based application for medical education.
• To enhance the learning of pharmacological concepts and their clinical applications for medical students.
• To alleviate resource burden and maximize learning through concept mapping.

Main Methods:

• PRORENATA was developed as a web application utilizing concept mapping.
• The application was designed with input from technical experts and medical content experts.
• A pilot version was launched in 2023, demonstrating general usability.
• Collaboration with MedTerms (NCSA) aimed to further enhance PRORENATA's features.

Main Results:

• PRORENATA provides a visual, tree-like organization of pharmacological content, classified by drug class or disease states.
• Detailed drug information, including mechanism of action, indications, side effects, and contraindications, is accessible.
• Each image within the application links to its source page, ensuring proper attribution and verification.

Conclusions:

• PRORENATA is a student-designed and created resource application that enhances pharmacology education.
• The application's structure and expert backing ensure content accuracy and relevance.
• PRORENATA supports medical student learning by providing a comprehensive and visually organized approach to pharmacology.