A study to assess feedback on existing teaching and evaluation methods in pharmacology among undergraduate students

ABSTRACT

Background: Pharmacology, being both basic and applied science, is indeed the foundation of rational therapy. Pharmacology education needs constant reform and reorganization to review and adapt learning and teaching methods. It can be better achieved using student feedback. Aims and Objectives: The study was designed to obtain and evaluate the feedback of students on various teaching and evaluation methods in pharmacology. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional study. A pre-tested questionnaire used for the purpose of this study. After obtaining permission from the Institutional Ethics Committee, a questionnaire was given to the students of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Bachelors in science (Nursing), and Allied Health Sciences (AHS) courses. Students who completed pharmacology as a part of their course curriculum were enrolled in the study. Results: A total of 273 students participants took part in our study. The most common age was 20 years (147 students, 53.8%), more females (153 students, 56%), and the majority of them were MBBS students (153 students, 56%). Most of the students found that knowledge of chemotherapy will be useful during the post-course internship (26.4%) and the knowledge of autocoids will be the least useful in clinical practice (1.1%). Students preferred more than studying method for pharmacology (37.4%). Conclusion: An effective teaching program is beneficial to comprehend pharmacology. Any effort at obtaining constant feedback from students makes our methodologies more relevant and interesting. Any worthwhile effort in this direction will lead to more rational prescribers and/or health-care professionals in the future.