Curriculum topics in pharmacy education: Current and ideal emphasis

This study assessed the current and ideal emphasis for curriculum coverage of 33 generalist curriculum topics in PharmD programs and evaluated barriers to curriculum change. These topics reflect a wide range of recommendations for curriculum change in a number of health professions. This study was part of a larger study of 11 health professions education programs. A 46-item survey using a 5-point scale format was mailed to the curriculum directors at all U.S. pharmacy schools affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy that offer the PharmD degree (n=71). The ordinal scores for current emphasis and ideal emphasis for each of the 33 topics were compared for differences between current and desired emphasis. The ratings of barriers to curriculum change were also analyzed. The four topics rated highest for ideal emphasis by pharmacy respondents were "Effective patient-provider relationships/communicaiion," "Patient teaching/education," "Outpatient/ambulatory care," and "Use of electronic information systems." Topics related to community health and health care for the underserved were not ranked highly for ideal emphasis. The most significant barriers to curriculum reform were "Limited availability of clinical learning sites" and "An already crowded curriculum". Responses indicate an awareness by pharmacy curriculum directors of the need for significant improvements in the coverage of broad, generalist competencies in the PharmD curriculum. The curriculum directors were most concerned about increasing the emphasis on "Accountability for cost-effectiveness and patient outcomes," "Health promotion/disease prevention," "Population-based health care," "Managed care," and "Use of electronic information systems". A movement toward primary and outpatient care and better relationships and communication between pharmacists and patients were evident in the curriculum directors' responses.