Reducing Pharmaceuticals in Water, a New Module Integrated in the Pharmacy Game: Evaluating the Module's Effects on Students' Knowledge and Attitudes.

Pharmaceutical residues end up in surface waters, impacting drinking water sources and contaminating the aquatic ecosystem. Pharmacists can play a role in reducing pharmaceutical residues, yet this is often not addressed in pharmacy undergraduate education. Therefore, we developed the educational module "Reducing Pharmaceuticals in Water" for pharmacy students; this was integrated in our pharmacy simulation game for third year Master of Pharmacy students at the University of Groningen. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effects of the module on students' knowledge of pharmaceutical residues in water, to describe students' experiences in taking the module, and to explore their attitudes towards green pharmacy education in general. This mixed-methods study included quantitative measurements, before and after students took the module (intervention group) and in a control group which did not receive the module. Data were collected between February 2023 and June 2023. Overall, 29 students took the module and 36 students were in the control group. The knowledge score of students in the intervention group (N = 29) increased significantly from 9.3 to 12.9 out of 22 (p < 0.001). The knowledge score of the students in the control group was (8.9 out of 22). Students found the e-learning and the patient cases the most exciting part of this module. Students also recognized the need to including environmental issues in pharmacy education. In conclusion, the module contributes towards improved knowledge and increased awareness of the impact of pharmaceuticals found in water. It represents a promising strategy to strengthen pharmacist's role in mitigating the amount and the effect of pharmaceuticals on water and the environment in the future.

The International Pharmacy Game: A Comparison of Implementation in Seven Universities World-Wide.

The utilization of serious games and simulations in health professional education has increased. The Pharmacy Game is one such concept that intersects gamification and simulation, in which pharmacy student teams competitively manage simulated pharmacies; a concept included in the pharmacy curricula of seven international universities. This study aimed to compare the implementation and conduct of the Pharmacy Game of participant universities and their students' performance in the same educational task. Data were collected via a questionnaire completed by academic staff in April 2020, and the collation of results of the same patient case was conducted at each university (April 2020 to March 2021). The main results reflected differences in the game frequencies and the curricular approach (standalone or integrated course) and in the learning outcomes for the Pharmacy Game. Other differences were identified in the extent to which students of other professions were part of the game such as medical students or pharmacy assistants. Student case outcomes revealed similar strengths across the universities in patient communication and focus on safety, with variations identified as areas for improvement. Collation of the international utilization of the Pharmacy Game identified a broad spectrum of similar learning outcomes, inspiring a model of international core and aspirational learning outcomes. While the Pharmacy Game has been implemented with flexibility regarding the numbers of teams (4-10) and the duration of activity (12-36 days), all universities reported positive experiences and student outcomes, suggesting that the intervention represents a potential tool to deliver capstone learning experiences, promote interprofessional education, reinforce patient safety, and prepare pharmacy graduates for future practice.

The Pharmacy Game-GIMMICS® a Simulation Game for Competency-Based Education.

The profile of the profession of pharmacists has profoundly changed over the last decades. Pharmacy education has moved towards competency-based education. The pharmacy game, called GIMMICS®, developed at the University of Groningen, is unique in combining simulation with serious gaming to teach a wide range of competencies. In this article, we describe the learning goals, the assessment methods, the teaching tools, and the students' view of the pharmacy game. The learning goals are to train the competencies of collaboration, leadership, communication, and pharmaceutical expertise. The core of the game is the simulation of community pharmacy practice activities, such as patient counseling, processing of prescriptions, and collaboration with other health professionals. Students are assessed individually and as a pharmacy team. The pharmacy team, with the largest number of patients wins the game. Student evaluations show that they value the course. Currently, seven universities from around the globe have adopted the pharmacy game in their curriculum, adjusting the course to their country's pharmacy practice and educational system.