title: The effect of active learning methodologies on the teaching of pharmaceutical care in a Brazilian pharmacy faculty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, pharmacists have been involved in expanded patient care responsibilities, for example patient counseling in self-medication, medication review and pharmaceutical care, which require graduates to develop the necessary competences. Consequently, reorientation of pharmacy education has become necessary. As such, active learning strategies have been introduced into classrooms to increase problem-solving and critical thinking skills of students. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and perceptions of competency of students in a new pharmaceutical care course that uses active learning methodologies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pharmaceutical care course was conducted in the first semester of 2014, in the Federal University of Sergipe. In the pharmaceutical care course, active learning methods were used, consisting of dialogic classroom expository, simulation and case studies. Student learning was evaluated using classroom tests and instruments that evaluated the perception of competency in pharmaceutical care practice. Furthermore, students' satisfaction with the course was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three students completed the four evaluations used in the course (i.e., a discursive written exam, seminars, OSCE, and virtual patient); 25 were female (75.75%), and the median age was 23.43 (SD 2.82) years. The overall mean of student scores, in all evaluation methods was 7.97 (SD 0.59) on a scale of 0 to 10 points, and student performance on the virtual patient method was statistically superior to other methods. With respect to the perception of competency in pharmaceutical care practice, a comparison of pre- and post-test scores revealed statistically significant improvement for all evaluated competences. At the end of the semester, the students presented positive opinions of the pharmaceutical care course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that an active learning course can enhance the learning of pharmaceutical care competences. In future studies it will be necessary to compare active learning to traditional methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Werlissandra M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thays C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Boaventura
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Izadora M C
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angelo R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Antoniolli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wellington B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Divaldo P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Lyra Júnior
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking