Strengthening Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge in Patient Care through Community-based Outreach Activities

This quasi-experimental study aimed to design and compare outcomes of two early experiential activities through community-based learning. Seventy pharmacy students were assigned into an intervention and control group to practice at certain communities. The program in the intervention group included a 1-day brief lecture on a basic physical examination and patient interview techniques and a 10-day program of four health-related activities; home visits, health screening, health education, and case discussion. The control group practiced a 10-day routine activity of the community. The students’ knowledge and attitude, the pharmacist and the practitioners’ attitude were assessed at the end of the program. The findings revealed that both groups showed improvement in total knowledge scores but basic health care score was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.01). All students were satisfied with the program and responded that their knowledge was strengthened. From the pharmacists’ viewpoint, patient care experience encouraged students to take care of others and the program helped students to understand health and drug use problems in the community. To sum up, the program was able to strengthen the patient care knowledge of students and health concern of the community. These benefits will encourage both students and communities to further solve health problems.