Abstract
The graduate students in our laboratory underwent 4-5 months of training at Maizuru Kyosai Hospital. To evaluate the effectiveness of this long-term practical training course of the off-campus hospital, we conducted a questionnaire survey before and after the course among the students and the pharmacists. The results of the survey suggest that the students gained experience regarding pharmaceutical management and came to understand the importance of pharmaceutical care during the course. They had an opportunity to connect clinical practice with the research activities conducted at the university. With regard to the pharmacists, this course has motivated them to act as mentors during the practical training, and therefore was also of significance to them. However, this long-term practical training at the off-campus hospital necessitated a change in lifestyle and living arrangements for the students, which placed stress on them. They required emotional support from university staff before and during the placement. These results show that in order to maintain close collaboration with the hospital and to ensure the success of long-term practical training at an off-campus hospital, academic and emotional support for the students is necessary.
