Peer Instruction as an Alternative Active Learning Pedagogy Across the Pharmacy Curriculum.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine if peer instruction (PI) is a useful active learning pedagogy to increase correct responses to pharmacotherapy concepts throughout didactic education in a Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. METHODS: Peer instruction was implemented into 3 pharmacy practice courses spanning 3 years of didactic pharmacy education at Cedarville University: Introduction to Self-Care (PHAR 6112) in the first professional year, Respiratory Module (PHAR 6261) in the second professional year, and Special Populations Module (PHAR 7343) in the third professional year. ConcepTests, which are multiple-choice questions written to help students apply previous knowledge to new scenarios, were re-polled based on a PI algorithm after peer discussion. Changes in students paired before and after peer discussion ConcepTest responses were analyzed using a McNemar test and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 52 first-year students, 43 second-year students, and 49 third-year students participated in each respective course. Across all courses, an increase in the percentage of correct responses to ConceptTests after peer discussion was observed from the first polling (51.2%) to the second polling (90.4%). This increase in the percentage of correct responses was observed across all years of the curriculum, with greater increases in cohorts with previous participation in PI-based sessions. CONCLUSION: The use of PI fostered improvement in the percentage of correct responses to ConcepTests focused on pharmacotherapy concepts throughout the first 3 years of didactic education. This pedagogy may be an effective and useful active learning strategy in pharmacy education that does not require significant classroom infrastructure changes.

Effect of peer instruction pedagogy on concept mastery in a first professional year pharmacy self-care course.

INTRODUCTION: As active learning is being encouraged in pharmacy education, valid active learning pedagogies should be investigated. Peer instruction pedagogy has yet to be explored in the pharmacy education setting. Peer instruction assesses student understanding of a topic through multiple choice questions called ConcepTests. When the class scores below a threshold, students are given time to discuss the ConcepTest. They are then given an opportunity to repeat the same ConcepTest. METHODS: Peer instruction pedagogy was implemented in the 2017 fall semester of PHAR 6112: Introduction to Self-Care. Changes in student responses were recorded via Turning Technologies software to identify if peer instruction increased the number of students who answered ConcepTests correctly. Changes in responses were analyzed via a paired t-test and McNemar test. Students were also surveyed on their perceptions of the pedagogy. RESULTS: A total of 51 questions proceeded through the entirety of the peer instruction algorithm. Peer instruction was associated with an increase in correct response (P < .001). Students' total number of correct responses to ConcepTest questions increased by an average of 16.1 (31.5%) following peer instruction (P<.001). Over 86% of students would recommend that other instructors use ConcepTests. CONCLUSIONS: Peer instruction resulted in an increase in correct responses to session ConcepTests. This pedagogy has potential as an active learning method to deliver pharmacy material.