title: Short Communication: Perception and attitude of pharmacy students towards learning tools.
abstract: Use of technology in education has increased worldwide. Teaching methodologies are shifting from traditional classroom lectures to e-learning and computer-based learning. Pakistani students are also now fathoming necessity of acquiring tools for strengthening their knowledge and skills. The objective of present study was to analyze the shifting trends (perception and attitudes) of Pakistani Pharmacy students towards learning tools. A survey based study conducted on 296 students from various years of Pharmacy, studying in a state owned university, Karachi, Pakistan. This study was initially piloted and Cronbach's-alpha was computed for evaluation of internal consistency of questionnaire (for perception; 0.660, for attitude; 0.777 respectively). Data was computed by SPSS, version 16 (Crosstab) and Chisquare (P=0.05). Most of the students strongly agreed (53%; χ² =495;P<0.05) that introducing technology will improve learning; books are reliable reading source (53%; χ² =437.23; P<0.05) or book-reading is essential (50%; χ² =360.36; P<0.05) while others disagreed that they only study from class lectures (31%; χ² =17.22; P<0.05); not take classes (41%; χ² =48.21; P<0.05); have used software (44%; χ² =46.54; P<0.05). Majority of the students agreed on incorporating technology to improve learning. Other factors such as unavailability and expenditure of books influenced their ability to learn. This study might assist policy makers in developing policies that could improve learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fatima Ramzan
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fouzia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sm Farid
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fouzia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Israr
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Yusra
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shafiq
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hafiz Muhammad
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Arshad
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D010465:Perception; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult