First-year pharmacy students' perceptions of their service-learning experience

To determine the effects of a service-learning experience, first year pharmacy students were surveyed on the following: (i) perceptions regarding cultural diversity, the elderly, the poor, and the disabled; and (ii) perceptions regarding community service and social support; (iii) perceptions regarding their service-learning assignment were also assessed. One hundred fourteen students were surveyed on objectives 1 and 2 prior to their service-learning experiences. Students were surveyed on all three objectives after completing their service-learning experience. Using a five-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree), respondents rated their level of agreement with a series of statements. T-tests were used to compare their pre- and post-test responses. A total of 112 (98 percent) students completed the survey. Comparisons of the pre and post-tests revealed that there was a significant increase in mean perception scores regarding: community service (P=0.02), and patients' need for social support (P<0.01). No other comparisons were significantly different. Students agreed (mean=3.8) that all pharmacy students should complete a service-learning experience, and they also agreed (mean=4.0) that the service-learning experience would be beneficial to them when practicing pharmacy. Introducing service-learning during the pharmacy curriculum may help students to: (i) better understand the future patients that they will be serving; (ii) recognize the importance of community service; and (iii) become more aware of patients' need for social support.