Development of an effective physical education class to reduce dislike for physical education and enhance communication skills in pharmacy students

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate a newly developed physical education class designed to reduce pharmacy students’ dislike of physical education and enhance their communication skills (CS). It also sought to explore the relationship between aversion to physical education and CS. Participants were surveyed about their likes and dislikes and CS before and after attending the class and encouraged to freely describe any reasons for changes following their participation. The findings indicated that an effective physical education class fosters an environment where failure in sports is acceptable, emphasizing enjoyment over motor skill proficiency. This is particularly important because many pharmacy students are thought to harbor a dislike for sports. Additionally, incorporating group activities and strategy sessions that require collaboration and communication with peers proved beneficial. Therefore, the newly developed physical education class shows promise in mitigating students’ aversion to physical education while simultaneously improving their CS.