Elective Course in Acute Care Using Online Learning and Patient Simulation

• Published in: American journal of pharmaceutical education Vol. 75; no. 3; p. 54
• Main Authors: Seybert, Amy L., Kane-Gill, Sandra L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 11-04-2011; American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy; American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
• Subjects: acute care; cardiovascular; Clinical Competence; Computer-Assisted Instruction - methods; critical care; Critical thinking; Education, Pharmacy - methods; Educational Measurement; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Innovations in Teaching; Internet; Online education; online learning; Patient Care; Patient Simulation; Problem-Based Learning - methods; problem-solving skills; Students, Pharmacy; Study and teaching; critical thinking; patient simulation; critical care; cardiovascular; problem-solving skills; online learning; acute care
• ISSN: 0002-9459; 1553-6467
• DOI: 10.5688/ajpe75354

Objective. To enhance students’ knowledge of and critical-thinking skills in the management of acutely ill patients using online independent learning partnered with high-fidelity patient simulation sessions.
Design. Students enrolled in the Acute Care Simulation watched 10 weekly Web-based video presentations on various critical care and advanced cardiovascular pharmacotherapy topics. After completing each online module, all students participated in groups in patient-care simulation exercises in which they prepared a pharmacotherapeutic plan for the patient, recommended this plan to the patient's physician, and completed a debriefing session with the facilitator.
Assessment. Students completed a pretest and posttest before and after each simulation exercise, as well as midterm and final evaluations and a satisfaction survey. Pharmacy students significantly improved their scores on 9 of the 10 tests (p ≤ 0.05). Students’ performance on the final evaluation improved compared with performance on the midterm evaluation. Overall, students were satisfied with the unique dual approach to learning and enjoyed the realistic patient-care environment that the simulation laboratory provided.
Conclusion. Participation in an elective course that combined self-directed Web-based learning and hands-on patient simulation exercises increased pharmacy students’ knowledge and critical-thinking skills in acute care.