title: Elective course in acute care using online learning and patient simulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To enhance students' knowledge of and critical-thinking skills in the management of acutely ill patients using online independent learning partnered with high-fidelity patient simulation sessions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students enrolled in the Acute Care Simulation watched 10 weekly Web-based video presentations on various critical care and advanced cardiovascular pharmacotherapy topics. After completing each online module, all students participated in groups in patient-care simulation exercises in which they prepared a pharmacotherapeutic plan for the patient, recommended this plan to the patient's physician, and completed a debriefing session with the facilitator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students completed a pretest and posttest before and after each simulation exercise, as well as midterm and final evaluations and a satisfaction survey. Pharmacy students significantly improved their scores on 9 of the 10 tests (p ≤ 0.05). Students' performance on the final evaluation improved compared with performance on the midterm evaluation. Overall, students were satisfied with the unique dual approach to learning and enjoyed the realistic patient-care environment that the simulation laboratory provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participation in an elective course that combined self-directed Web-based learning and hands-on patient simulation exercises increased pharmacy students' knowledge and critical-thinking skills in acute care.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, USA. seyberta@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Seybert
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kane-Gill
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D005791:Patient Care; D016544:Patient Simulation; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods; D013339:Students, Pharmacy