Best practices assessment to guide curricular change in a bachelor of pharmacy program.

Objective: To identify best practices in global pharmacy education and curriculum design as the basis for decisions about major curriculum change in an existing 4-year bachelor of pharmacy curriculum.

Methods: We investigated international best-practice standards, conducted semi-structured interviews with faculty members, and used standardized instruments to investigate student perceptions of the existing curriculum and how they approached their learning.

Results: Faculty recommendations included horizontal and vertical integration of curriculum content to replace the previous discipline-based approach; and a theme-based structure underpinned by a detailed statement of learning outcomes that describe the knowledge, skills, and attitudinal milestones to be achieved each year and by the time of graduation. The triangulation of student survey data highlighted issues that needed to be addressed at the individual course unit level, with a particular focus on feedback, assessment, and workload.

Conclusions: The results of the curriculum review provided clear guidance for decisions relating to major curriculum change. An ongoing program of staff development will address the wide range of learning and teaching issues identified by both staff members and students. The results of our investigation of students' approaches to learning will also be used to guide staff development workshops, focusing on strategies to promote "meaningful learning."