Applying organ clearance concepts in a clinical setting.
OBJECTIVE
To teach doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students how to apply organ clearance concepts in a clinical setting in order to optimize dose management, select the right drug product, and promote better patient-centered care practices.


METHODS
A student-focused 5-hour topic entitled "Organ Clearance Concepts: Modeling and Clinical Applications" was developed and delivered to second-year PharmD students. Active-learning techniques, such as reading assignments and thought-provoking questions, and collaborative learning techniques, such as small groups, were used. Student learning was assessed using application cards and a minute paper.


RESULTS
Overall student responses to topic presentation were overwhelmingly positive. The teaching strategies here discussed allowed students to play an active role in their own learning process and provided the necessary connection to keep them motivated, as mentioned in the application cards and minute paper assessments. Students scored an average of 88% on the examination given at the end of the course.


CONCLUSIONS
By incorporating active-learning and collaborative-learning techniques in presenting material on organ clearance concept, students gained a more thorough knowledge of dose management and drug-drug interactions than if the concepts had been presented using a traditional lecture format. This knowledge will help students in solving critical patient situations in a real-world context.
Duconge
Jorge
J
University of Puerto Rico School of Pharmacy, Medical Sciences Campus, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067. jduconge@rcm.upr.edu
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D009928:Organ Specificity; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013339:Students, Pharmacy
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations