Surveys of pharmacy students and pharmacy educators regarding medical marijuana.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, a cohort of Ohio pharmacy students were surveyed about knowledge and attitudes regarding medical marijuana (MMJ). Pharmacy educators in legalized states were asked how MMJ education was incorporated into pharmacy curricula. METHODS: Pharmacy students from six colleges were emailed surveys. Pharmacy educators from 79 colleges in states with legal MMJ programs were emailed regarding curricular content covering MMJ. RESULTS: A total of 319 student respondents received scores between 50 and 60% on knowledge-based questions. Students favored legalization of medical, but not recreational marijuana; they are not confident in ability to counsel; they believe little education on MMJ is provided in pharmacy school; and feel that more education is needed on MMJ. Students supporting MMJ were more likely to support recreational use of marijuana (p < 0.001), and education about MMJ (p < 0.001). Students in advanced years were less willing to dispense medical marijuana (p < 0.01), and less likely to support pharmacist availability for counseling (p < 0.05). Sixty-two percent of colleges who responded to the survey in legalized states provided education on MMJ to pharmacy students. Sixty-four percent of colleges responding who provided MMJ education offered a required course; 84.6% educated on indications and misuse/abuse; 92.3% on side effects, and adverse drug reactions; 53.8% on drug interactions. CONCLUSION: Ohio pharmacy student knowledge regarding medical marijuana is low. Students believe pharmacists should be available for counseling on MMJ; they feel unprepared to dispense MMJ, and would like more education on MMJ. Some colleges of pharmacy in the US report providing MMJ education; extent is unknown.

Promoting a growth mindset in pharmacy educators and students.

COMMENTARY: Mindsets are implicit theories that influence how individuals think, act, and respond. Those with a fixed mindset tend to resist learning opportunities; those with a growth mindset embrace learning opportunities. It is important that pharmacy educators work to shift the mindsets of their students toward a growth mindset in order to promote resilience, improve personal outcomes, and enhance attitudes toward learning. Mindsets are not static, and with persistence and effort, can be modified. IMPLICATIONS: Pharmacy educators can do much to influence the mindsets of their learners, and with purposeful effort, can help cultivate an environment that enhances a learner's growth mindset. If an educator is not deliberate, fixed mindsets can be inadvertently promoted to learners, which can result in diminished learning experiences for both student and educator. This commentary will inform pharmacy educators about mindsets and present several teaching and precepting techniques that can help promote a growth mindset among themselves and their learners.