Constructing a self-care curriculum.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the unique challenges presented by a dynamic marketplace when designing a self-care curriculum. As manufacturers seek to satisfy consumer demand and increase market product shares, rapid changes occur with brand name extensions and prescription to nonprescription switches. The US Food and Drug Administration's continuous process of approving ingredients (monographs) add to this changing environment. Thus, developing learning outcomes beyond drug knowledge becomes critical. Learning outcomes must also address the multifaceted nature of self-care, including the development of skills in patient assessment (triage) and education. Determining which content areas to be covered can be difficult when consumer demand and marketplace changes are considered. For example, consumer use of dietary and herbal supplements forces pharmacists to have some basic knowledge of safety and efficacy regarding these products. Ultimately, given the dynamic, multifaceted nature of self-care, developing life-long learning skills/attitudes in students may be the most important outcome necessary for a self-care curriculum.