2023 Volume 158 Issue 2 Pages 119-127
Active learning in pharmacology education “pharmacology role-play,” in which students pretend to be health professionals and patients and explain diseases and drug treatments. Because pharmacology role-play is based on cases presented in advance and active learning through communication, named Case & Communication based approach (C&C approach). Pharmacology role-play was started in 2010 at the University of Miyazaki, it has been shared by 28 schools in 4 faculties of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and nursing (23 medical schools, 1 pharmaceutical school, 2 dental schools, and 2 nursing universities) over the 13 years until 2022. Although it is a common program, it is implemented with diversity while devoting various ingenuity according to the characteristics of the University. Pharmacology role-play is effective in (1) understanding of medical treatment, (2) understanding patient’s feelings, (3) improvement of mental attitude and motivation as health professionals (4) positive influence upon study attitude, regardless of universities that conducted the pharmacology role-play. Various efforts include combining with Personal Drugs, developing interprofessional education through joint role-playing by medical students and nursing students, and developing Oriental medicine education through the cases including Kampo medicine. In addition, there are online lectures in response to the Covid-19, and a joint implementation of two universities, all of which are highly effective. The advantage of the multi-institution common program is that a lot of information can be obtained at once, and it is easy to quickly reflect successful ideas. The flexibility and high resilience that can flexibly change the implementation method (face-to-face/remote) according to the situation are also great strengths.
