OBJECTIVE: To determine pharmacy students' attitudes towards a required public health course and developing a public health program. METHOD: Two hundred ten first-year pharmacy students enrolled in a public health course at a large private pharmacy school were surveyed. A 24-item adjective rating scale and a 10-item scale were used to measure students' attitudes towards the course and developing a public health program. RESULTS: Of 198 respondents, two-thirds found the course to be extremely or very appealing, of practical value, and only slightly demanding and difficult. The majority of the students indicated that establishing a public health program would be an opportunity to help the community and make a difference. Few students indicated that it would be a poor use of time or an example of busy work. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students had positive attitudes towards a required public health course and developing a public health program. Strategies to mold positive attitudes into actual behaviors of engaging in public health activities are needed.
OBJECTIVE: To determine pharmacy students' attitudes towards a required public health course and developing a public health program. METHOD: Two hundred ten first-year pharmacy students enrolled in a public health course at a large private pharmacy school were surveyed. A 24-item adjective rating scale and a 10-item scale were used to measure students' attitudes towards the course and developing a public health program. RESULTS: Of 198 respondents, two-thirds found the course to be extremely or very appealing, of practical value, and only slightly demanding and difficult. The majority of the students indicated that establishing a public health program would be an opportunity to help the community and make a difference. Few students indicated that it would be a poor use of time or an example of busy work. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students had positive attitudes towards a required public health course and developing a public health program. Strategies to mold positive attitudes into actual behaviors of engaging in public health activities are needed.
Keywords:
attitudes; pharmacy curriculum; public health
Authors: Janet Allan; Timi Agar Barwick; Suzanne Cashman; James F Cawley; Chris Day; Chester W Douglass; Clyde H Evans; David R Garr; Rika Maeshiro; Robert L McCarthy; Susan M Meyer; Richard Riegelman; Sarena D Seifer; Joan Stanley; Melinda Swenson; Howard S Teitelbaum; Peggy Timothe; Kathryn E Werner; Douglas Wood Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Cynthia A Naughton; Daniel Friesner; David Scott; Donald Miller; Christian Albano Journal: Am J Pharm Educ Date: 2010-12-15 Impact factor: 2.047