title: What do graduates think about a two-week rational pharmacotherapy course in the fifth year of medical education?
abstract: The present study aims to assess the short- and mid-term post-graduation impact of a pharmacotherapy course in the fifth year at Marmara University School of Medicine by an objective (OSCE) and a subjective (questionnaires) evaluation. Statistical comparison of pretest, posttest-exposed case and posttest-unexposed case scores indicated both a retention and a transfer effect of training. The post-course questionnaire revealed that 95%of the students found the course useful and necessary; 97% reported that they will apply a rational pharmacotherapy approach using this model and communicate better with their patients. The post-graduation questionnaire also showed that the majority of them have learned general principles of rational pharmacotherapy(90%), gained good prescribing (90%) and communication skills (87.5%), and understood the importance of non-pharmacological treatment alternatives (100%). In general, they stated that they would apply the principles during their medical practice and they believed their colleagues would do too. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the benefit of a clinical pharmacology programme focused on rational pharmacotherapy during the clinical years of medical education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karaalp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akici
authors.forename: Y E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Kocabaşoğlu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oktay
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000379:methods*; D004358:Drug Therapy; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010601:Pharmacology, Clinical / Q000193:education*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey