Self-Improvement and Participatory Career Development Education Program: “Internship and Volunteer Experience Training for Pharmacy Students" and its results

Abstract

In the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, the Self-Improvement and Participatory Career Development Education Program: “Internship and Volunteer Training Experience for Pharmacy Students” has been offered to 3^rd grade students. The program is aimed at training students to become pharmacists with the ability to cooperate with doctors, nurses and other medical staff and at promoting the integration of community healthcare systems. Nursing practice was conducted under the instructions of nurses in words. Over-the-counter drug dealing and community based medical network practices were conducted under the instructions of pharmacists in drugstores. In this paper, we verified the effects of this training experience by questionnaire survey conducted in registration students, and image maps “on the environment surrounding the pharmacist” in the year following in registration and non-registration students.
The questionnaires revealed many comments about accomplishments as professionals, and activities in professional duties. The image maps showed a representation with care for patients. The average numbers of medical words related to pharmacists in the maps were 12.3 (registration students), and 7.9 (non-registration students) (P < 0.001, student's t-test). These training experiences enhanced awareness of the mission of professional pharmacists, motivation to studies and medical related knowledge. Our studies clarified that these training experiences were effective in cultivating the willingness to learn the aims of pharmacists, awareness of becoming healthcare workers, medical knowledge, and contemplation about future careers and life.