title: Book club elective to facilitate student learning of the patient experience with chronic disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of a book club experience on pharmacy students' learning about chronic illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students read autobiographies/biographies regarding the patient experience of chronic illness. Similar to a traditional book club, small group discussions were held based on questions submitted by students. Other activities included written reflections, a final paper, and an oral presentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A retrospective pretest and posttest were administered at the end of the course. Students indicated improvement in the key aspects of the course with significant differences (p < 0.01) between retrospective pretest and posttest scores for all course objectives assessed. Students also indicated that the course contributed to their development as pharmacists, motivated them to learn about new topics, and helped them reconsider their attitudes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A book club elective course was successful in helping students understand the patient experience.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Purdue University, USA. kplake@purdue.edu
authors.forename: Kimberly S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Plake
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004645:Empathy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*