title: Teaching the pharmacology of antiarrhythmic drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students with highly integrated, comprehensive and up-to-date instruction related to the pharmacology of antiarrhythmic drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students were taught the medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutics of antiarrhythmic agents in the cardiology module presented in quarter 7 of the PharmD curriculum. Important foundational information for this topic was presented to students in prerequisite physiology courses and pathophysiology courses offered earlier in the curriculum. Emphasis was placed on student critical thinking and active involvement. Weekly recitation sessions afforded students the opportunity to apply the information they learned regarding arrhythmia pharmacotherapy to comprehensive patient cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Student comprehension was measured using class exercises, short quizzes, case write-ups, comprehensive examinations, group exercises, and classroom discussion. Students were afforded the opportunity to evaluate the course, and the instructors as well as rate the degree to which the course achieved its educational outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students learned about cardiac arrhythmias through a high-quality, interdisciplinary series of classes presented by faculty members with extensive experience related to the pharmacology and pharmacotherapy of cardiac arrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: South University School of Pharmacy, 709 Mall Blvd, Savannah, GA 31406, USA. mzdanowicz@southuniversity.edu
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zdanowicz
authors.forename: Launa M J
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032882:Comprehension; D003479:Curriculum; D004514:Education, Pharmacy, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010601:Pharmacology, Clinical / Q000193:education*; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D013850:Thinking
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents