Service Learning in Pharmacy Education: A Look at Health, its Determinants, and Medication Use The American Democracy Project National Meeting. June 7-9,

Service Learning in Pharmacy Education: A Look at Health, its Determinants, and

Medication Use

The American Democracy Project National Meeting. June 7-9, 2007 • Sheraton Society Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Saturday, June 9th, Concurrent Sessions Flower, 10:15a.m. - Noon

Lucy Ngoh, PhD, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Ferris State University

Service Learning in Pharmacy Education: A Look at Health, its Determinants, and Medication Use


Session Agenda:

1. Definitions of Service-Learning.

2. Criteria for Academic Service-Learning

3. Service-Learning in Pharmacy Education (PHAD 502)

4. Obstacles to Integrating Service-Learning into A Course

Definitions of Service-Learning


“Service-Learning is a credit bearing, educational, experience in which students participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs and reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility.”

Bringle and Hatcher, 1995, p.112


Jacoby has defined Service-Learning as, "...a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development. Reflection and reciprocity are key concepts of Service-Learning“.1

1Jacoby, B., "Service-Learning in today's higher education," in Service-Learning in Higher Education: Concepts and Practices (Jacoby, B., & Associates) Jossey-Bass, Inc., San Francisco CA (1996) pp. 5.

Academic Service-Learning

Three Necessary Criteria for Academic Service- Learning

Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning. Service-Learning Course Design Workbook; Summer 2001, p.12.

Service-Learning in Pharmacy Education


In 2001, the AACP Professional Affairs Committee issued a statement supporting the “development and maintenance of strong community-campus partnerships.”2

2 Final Report 2000-2001 Professional Affairs Committee, AACP, 2001. Available at: http://www.aacp.org/site/page.asp?TRACKID=&VID=1&CID=643&DID=4542. Accessed October 12, 2003.


The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Center for the Advancement of Pharmaceutical Education has recommended that in addition to professional competencies, pharmacy schools should integrate general abilities such as social and contextual awareness, social responsibility, valuing and ethical decision making and social interaction into school curricular programs.1

1Brandt BF. Chair report for the professional affairs committee. Am J Phar Educ. 2001;65:19S-25S

Service Learning in Pharmacy Education: A Look at Health, its Determinants, and

Medication Use

Ferris State University, College of Pharmacy. PHAD 502

Sociopharmacy


General Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be familiar with the social issues that impact on the use of health services, particularly the legitimate use of medications in society. The student is expected to know and understand general concepts and principles of health and illness behaviors, general health behavior models, and to be aware of the relationships between health status and income, education, race and ethnicity, cultural influences, and use of pharmaceutical services.

PHAD 502 Sociopharmacy

Determinants of health

Service Learning Sites

Community outreach

Homeless shelter/clinics

Low-income family support programs

Disease specific support

programs/foundations

Food banks/soup kitchens

Programs for children/adults with disabilities

Assisted living facilities for the elderly

Occupational training /job placement

Crisis centers Faith-based initiative

programs

Sample Students’ comments on the Service-Learning project

Sample Students’ comments on

the Service-Learning project

“I liked that we got out of the classroom setting. Doing this enables us to apply knowledge or information that we learned in one place and use it in another. It made me think about how my future profession can influence non-pharmacy related settings and vice versa.

I didn’t care for having to analyze everything. I understand that it helped open my eyes up, but I still don’t like having to analyze thing.”

Sample Students’ comments on the Service-Learning project

“Relate the readings, lectures, and written CT assignments to each other and the pharmacy profession in general.”

Sample Community Contacts’ comments on the Service-

Learning project

Student Service Learning Assignment

I reviewed the objectives and have come up with an assignment. You will be contacted by --- who is a member of our Americorp team working at our Ferguson Internal Medicine Practice. … performs many outreach activities and is a BSW working on her MSW. I think she will be a good resource for the students. Her direct line is 616----. I have given her your phone number so you should expect either a call or an e-mail as I also forwarded your e-mail to her.

Thank you.


After reading the material you sent Lucy, I feel strongly that Gilda's Club would be a good setting for the students and one that would easily meet your objectives.

However, Gilda's Club is unique in our mission and philosophy and the student would do well to reflect on the value of social and emotional support in addition to the medical support individuals with cancer receive.

I invite our volunteers to a volunteer orientation in which they will receive the history, mission and philosophy of Gilda's Club and of course hear of the many volunteer opportunities we offer. Volunteers here are responsible for 80% of all that we do.


Lucy-

I think that we can help. I can arrange for the student to spend some time with myself discussing our organization, mission and values. The student may be able to assist in our financial assistance process. This would cover the first three hours. The final visit could be during one of our teen nights where we serve the most diverse population. This would either be a Friday or Saturday night though.

If you think that this would work, please give the student my contact information and I will arrange dates and time of service directly with them. They will need to complete a volunteer application and return it to me prior to their first day of service. It is attached.

Kind Regards,


Yes we could handle several students. We struggle with access issues: e.g. very few non-caucasian clients find their way to our doors, and Medicare does not pay for any low-vision devices.


Awareness of community is such an important part of education though often glossed over. I do appreciate your efforts.


Hello!

I look forward to working with Sean on his Service Learning Assignment for school. We are more than happy to work with Sean on the objects for the assignment. I believe this opportunity will provide Sean with a better understanding of non-medical services in his community. Sean and I will be meeting to set up dates and times in the near future.

Sample Service Learning Contacts’ Feedback


Also, I wanted you to know what a great job that Kristena did with her assignment at Allen Manor in GR. She was very enjoyable. Also, she was very attentive and responsive with the seniors. She meant with a few and answered their basic questions. She went back and did her investigations into their more specific questions and responded to them one on one.

She has completed her hours with us and I only wish she could could continue. Would it ever be possible for a student to have a semester assignment to be assigned to a site like us and be available on a regular basis to the residents? We could make a whole program out of this. It would be a great experience for both sides. She even attended a presentation about Medicare drug prescription from the local Area Agency on Aging staff which I had arranged at Allen Manor. I could go on and on about the benefits. So let's talk if this could ever be incorporated into their curriculm.


Your 3 students assisted with maturity, poise and authority. I would be happy to have them back. They also stated that they felt the experience with us was valuable for them

Sincerely,


“We only think when we are confronted with a problem”

John Dewey quotes (American Philosopher, Psychologist and Educator, 1859-1952)


What are the barriers to Integrating Service-

Learning into A Course?


Take Home Points–Start with “baby steps.”–Use available resources –One size (method) does not fit all– It takes time but it’s worth it


QUESTIONS/

COMMENTS

THANK YOU

Documents

Service Learning in Pharmacy Education: A Look at Health, its Determinants, and Medication Use The American Democracy Project National Meeting. June 7-9,