Implementation and Evaluation of a Workshop on Patient Counseling about Antidiabetic Medications for Final-Year Pharmacy Students

OBJECTIVE To implement an interactive workshop for final-year pharmacy students on patient counseling about antidiabetic medications and to assess its impact on knowledge and self-reported confidence of students in counseling. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The workshop was organized for all final-year pharmacy students (n = 27) during the academic year 2011-2012. It included various teaching and learning activities: interactive lectures, group work and role-playing. Pre-/postworkshop questionnaires were used to assess the impact of the workshop on students' knowledge about medications and attitudes to patient counseling, respectively. The workshop and the teaching activities were evaluated using an evaluation sheet. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Paired Student's t test was used to compare the results of pre-/postintervention instruments. Statistical significance was accepted at a p value of <0.05. RESULTS The mean ± standard deviation of the pre- and postworkshop knowledge questionnaire scores were 47.9 ± 17.6% and 70.7 ± 18.6%, respectively (p < 0.05), indicating that the workshop significantly improved students' knowledge about antidiabetic medications. It also had significant effects on students' self-reported confidence in communicating effectively with patients and counseling them on antidiabetic medications. All participants strongly agreed that the workshop was very useful. The case discussion in small groups was ranked as the most preferred learning method by the students. CONCLUSION This workshop was successful in improving knowledge and self-reported confidence of pharmacy students in counseling patients about antidiabetic medications. Adapting the use of engaging teaching methods allowed the students to become active, independent and self-directed learners and thus enhanced their confidence in providing pharmaceutical care to patients.