A multidisciplinary approach is used to teach the chemical mechanisms of biological processes and of drug action. Program prerequisites and objectives emphasize the training of creative scientists who are qualified to perform interesting and informative research on the interaction of drugs with biological systems. (LBH)

A statistical analysis reveals that: (1) inclusion of continuous assessment (CA) scores in the final assessment does not alter the ranking order of student performance; (2) it sometimes benefits the student, especially those of below-average ability; and (3) inclusion of CA in the final assessment of students in honors courses has no significant…

A competency-based pharmacy course was refined to minimize variations in the instructor-related factors by developing a specialized study guide, a specific lecture format, and precise objective examinations. Student grade expectations, perceived degree of memorizing, hours of study, time taken for examinations, and the absenteeism rate were…

A survey undertaken by the American Optometric Association reveals research projects, investigators, and in some cases, funding sources for research in the areas of low vision, ophthalmic lenses, pharmacology, anatomy and pathology, and sensory and motor functions. A total of 205 projects are charted. (MSE)

Since competency-based instruction is based on the testing process, this study suggests that careful attention to the construction of tests can produce a reliable, valid measure. The next steps to be taken include developing larger banks of test items, increasingly accurate tests, and instruction to meet specified objectives of the curriculum.…

The status of pharmaceutical education in Canada is reviewed with focus on admissions, manpower, and outlook for the future. (LBH)

The forward plan for health for 1978-1982 represents the Public Health Service's view of the health world for the next five-year period. Six main themes are outlined: knowledge development; prevention of illness; improving the health-care system; assuring the quality of health care; health-care financing; and tracking and evaluation. (LBH)

This paper summarizes part of the IOM study that determined the average annual education costs per student, for the first professional degree. Colleges of pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, veterinary medicine, podiatry, optometry, and nursing were included. The data are assessed with particular reference to the University of Kentucky.…

The instructional effectiveness of two different presentation methods (lecture and self-paced or modularized) was examined using two groups of pharmacy students. Little or no difference was found in this study of junior and senior students at Oregon State University. (LBH)

The results of this study indicate that some of the basic skills used in clerkship courses can be adequately taught using the autotutorial approach in the environment of an autotutorial center. Skills such as information retrieval from charts, patient assessment, recordkeeping, and parameter- following procedures can be obtained by students prior…

The training procedures used in teaching senior year pharmacy students the skills necessary to perform a medication history are described. The training involves videotaping medication histories with actual patients and evaluating the videotapes in small groups. (LBH)

The objectives of this study were to identify learning formats, and quantify the amount of continuing education by which pharmacists selected from the extensive array available as reported to the Michigan Board of Pharmacy upon audit. About 80 percent of respondents (N=52) used correspondence instruction to some degree. (Author/MLW)

Two approaches for teaching a student how to define a problem, acquire pertinent data, generate possible solutions, and optimize them for the patient are described: guided design, originating in engineering education; and problem-based learning, which has roots in medical education. (Author/MLW)

A study evaluated the use of a video cassette as an early recruitment tool, with respect to promoting viewer awareness and increasing rate of application to the undergraduate pharmacy program. Analysis of questionnaires showed that the videotape increased knowledge the profession. (Author/MLW)

Student attitudes, perceptions, and achievement motivation were assessed before and after participation in a nine-month series of professional experiences, including community and hospital practice experience with minority pharmacists, basic science laboratory exposure and career development counseling. Experiential exposure significantly improved…