Developing a model for teaching and learning clinical pharmacy components of the pharmacy curriculum in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Increasing clinical roles of pharmacists necessitate the need for adopting innovative teaching and learning methods that will enhance pharmacist’s clinical skills especially in developing countries. Aim: To develop appropriate model(s) for teaching clinical pharmacy in Nigeria. Method: The study consisted of focus group discussions (FGDs) with final year pharmacy students of a Nigerian university investigating their preferred methods for learning clinical pharmacy. The FGDs resulted in a 50-item questionnaire exploring appropriate models for teaching clinical pharmacy among the teachers. Data was evaluated using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Result: Integrated and interactive active-learning teaching models were proposed in the FGDs. Models proposed included Direct Instruction (DI), Guided Design (GD) Cognitive apprenticeship (CA), Cooperative Learning (CL) and Problem-based learning (PBL) with clinical pharmacy teachers ranking them GD=DI>CA>>CL=PBL for teaching clinical pharmacy components Conclusion: FGDs preferred low structure while the teachers preferred moderate to high structure of learning.