Student Pharmacist Led International E-Learning Collaborative and Educational Experience: Understanding the Role of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Curriculum in Mexico and USA

Abstract

Background: Pharmacy students in Mexico are exposed to United States’ pharmacy community services in hopes to adopt the services for their own pharmacy program. Objectives: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a strictly online-based teaching method to improve student knowledge on the role of pharmacists and the pharmacy curriculum in Mexico and the United States. Methods: This was a prospective study of pharmacy students attending the University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UCSD SSPPS) and Facultad de Quimic-Pharmaco-Biologia de la Universidad Michoacana San Nicolas de Hidalgo (UMSNH) during the 2015-2016 academic year who enrolled in the E-Learning Collaborative and Educational Experience Independent Study. Results: The e-learning course had 25 students total from both the United States and Mexico enrolled. Out of the 25 students, 4 students from the United States and 11 students from Mexico agreed to participate in the study. In the familiarity/confidence section of survey, there was a significant increase in 4 out of 5 questions in the Mexico group and 2 out of 5 in the U.S. groups. In the survey section regarding students’ perspective of e-learning and likelihood of community involvement, there was no statistical difference in the U.S. group and only one in the Mexico group. Conclusion: Despite the lack of statistical significance, the increase in median scores and proportion of correct responses in addition to the feedback provided by students suggest a positive learning experience to supports continuation of this study.