Design and conduct of clinical research: An elective course

Objectives. Introducing undergraduate PharmD students to clinical research early in their professional education is a key element in stimulating their interest in conducting patient-oriented research. As such, an elective course entitled Design and Conduct of Clinical Research Studies was developed in 1996 at the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy with this primary objective in mind. Design. The course is designed to blend a variety of educational experiences to meet the course objectives. These experiences include interactive didactic presentations, laboratory tours, computer software demonstrations, and observation of an ongoing clinical research project. Each student is required to develop a mock clinical research proposal, which must be presented verbally to the class, akin to a scientific platform presentation at the conclusion of the course. Assessment. Student assessment is based on 2 written examinations, preparation of their written research proposal and an informed consent agreement, and participation in the required observational activity of an ongoing research proposal. Overall the elective course has been extremely well received by the 62 students who have completed the course since its inception. Conclusion. Preparing the next generation of clinical scientists is largely the responsibility of faculty within the health professionals. Introducing motivated PharmD students early in their educational experience to clinical research represents one approach to fulfill this responsibility at the grassroots level.