title: A Required Online Course with a Public Health Focus for Third Professional Year Pharmacy Students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To design, deliver, and evaluate the impact of a required course on student knowledge acquisition and ability to evaluate contemporary public health issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2-credit course was implemented using asynchronous, online delivery. Learning activities included literature retrieval and assessment, analytic writing, quizzes, and creation of a group wiki evaluating a current public health issue. Course topics included health care reform, social determinants of health, health disparities, evidence-based medicine, end-of-life care, patient safety, and research ethics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strong student performance on assessments indicated an ability to use higher-order cognitive domains. Online delivery provided students with the flexibility to complete assignments at their convenience, allowed participation by all students, and encouraged self-directed learning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Completion of a required, online, asynchronous course with a public health focus allowed pharmacy students to increase their knowledge of and ability to evaluate contemporary ethical, social, cultural, and governmental issues affecting pharmacy practice.
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson College of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Amber E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson College of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Egras
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009862:Online Systems; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D013339:Students, Pharmacy
keywords: Public health; instructional technology; online learning; self-directed learning; wiki