Yap, Andrea Xin Wei
Community service and its learning values: perceptions of undergraduate pharmacy students - Vol.56(3), Jul-Sep - Karnataka Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI) 2022 - 673-680p.
ntroduction: Service learning is commonly incorporated into the curricula of health
professions programmes to provide a platform for students to acquire competencies
outside the classroom. The objectives of this study were to explore the perceptions
of pharmacy students about their experience in course-based community service
activities and their educational impact, as well as the contributing factors for effective
implementation. Materials and Methods: Twenty semi-structured interviews were
conducted among third- and fourth-year pharmacy students in a Malaysian University.
All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The interviews were
stopped when no new theme emerged. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis
approach. Results: Pharmacy students perceived community service as an experiential
learning activity that enabled them to apply the knowledge and practise the skills that
they learned in the classroom in real life situations. They had opportunities to enhance
their non-cognitive skills through engagement in projects that were preferably related
to pharmacy and aligned with their interest. Allocated time, faculty guidance and peer
collaboration were important to maximise the educational values of community service.
Assessment and feedback provided by supervisors and peers were useful to improve
the team dynamics and help students to identify areas of improvement. Conclusion:
Participation in community service activity contributed to professional and personal
development of pharmacy students.
PHARMACEUTICS
Community service and its learning values: perceptions of undergraduate pharmacy students - Vol.56(3), Jul-Sep - Karnataka Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI) 2022 - 673-680p.
ntroduction: Service learning is commonly incorporated into the curricula of health
professions programmes to provide a platform for students to acquire competencies
outside the classroom. The objectives of this study were to explore the perceptions
of pharmacy students about their experience in course-based community service
activities and their educational impact, as well as the contributing factors for effective
implementation. Materials and Methods: Twenty semi-structured interviews were
conducted among third- and fourth-year pharmacy students in a Malaysian University.
All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The interviews were
stopped when no new theme emerged. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis
approach. Results: Pharmacy students perceived community service as an experiential
learning activity that enabled them to apply the knowledge and practise the skills that
they learned in the classroom in real life situations. They had opportunities to enhance
their non-cognitive skills through engagement in projects that were preferably related
to pharmacy and aligned with their interest. Allocated time, faculty guidance and peer
collaboration were important to maximise the educational values of community service.
Assessment and feedback provided by supervisors and peers were useful to improve
the team dynamics and help students to identify areas of improvement. Conclusion:
Participation in community service activity contributed to professional and personal
development of pharmacy students.
PHARMACEUTICS