Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science

Event Title

Evaluation of Sensory Impairment Activities in the Pharmacy Curriculum

Presenter Information

Ashley Holmes, Butler University

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Location

Indianapolis, IN

Subject Area

Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science

Start Date

11-4-2014 10:15 AM

End Date

11-4-2014 11:45 AM

Description

Background: Sensory impairments affect millions of people in the United States. Many sensory impairments are associated with old age, and the number of people over the age of 65 in the US is rapidly rising. Pharmacy students will have to accommodate patients with sensory impairments at some point in their careers, regardless of their planned career paths. There is currently little time in the Butler University College of Pharmacy curriculum devoted to teaching students to empathize with patients who have a sensory impairment and how to accommodate these patients.

Study Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of empathy-based activities in teaching students how to assist patients with sensory impairments.

Methods: Students participated in two 25-minute long recitation sessions, one focused on visual impairments and one on hearing impairments. Prior to these recitations, students received a brief introduction to sensory impairment by watching a short video that identifies the senses and why they are important to daily life. Students were then asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of both open-ended questions and questions with answers on a Likert scale. The questions were designed to evaluate students' attitudes toward assisting patients with sensory impairments and their confidence in helping such patients, as well as their baseline knowledge of how to accommodate them. The first recitation focused on visual impairments, and required students to wear glasses that simulate 5 different impairments. Students performed activities such as reading patient handouts and sorting different colored tablets in order to replicate situations patients may encounter in a pharmacy. Students experimented with different ways to accommodate the impairments, and described to their group what they were seeing and what challenges they encountered. The second activity focused on hearing impairments. Students participated in role play as a pharmacist and a hearing impaired patient. After each activity, students took part in a group discussion. Once both recitations were completed, the students repeated the questionnaire so that the effect of the activities on their answers may be evaluated. Statistical analysis of the results is pending.

Significance: The ultimate goal of the study is to determine if the activities are effective in increasing student awareness and understanding of sensory impairments, as well as increasing students' knowledge of how to accommodate these impairments. If the activities are effective, they may be included in the curriculum for future pharmacy classes.

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Apr 11th, 10:15 AM Apr 11th, 11:45 AM

Evaluation of Sensory Impairment Activities in the Pharmacy Curriculum

Indianapolis, IN

Background: Sensory impairments affect millions of people in the United States. Many sensory impairments are associated with old age, and the number of people over the age of 65 in the US is rapidly rising. Pharmacy students will have to accommodate patients with sensory impairments at some point in their careers, regardless of their planned career paths. There is currently little time in the Butler University College of Pharmacy curriculum devoted to teaching students to empathize with patients who have a sensory impairment and how to accommodate these patients.

Study Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of empathy-based activities in teaching students how to assist patients with sensory impairments.

Methods: Students participated in two 25-minute long recitation sessions, one focused on visual impairments and one on hearing impairments. Prior to these recitations, students received a brief introduction to sensory impairment by watching a short video that identifies the senses and why they are important to daily life. Students were then asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of both open-ended questions and questions with answers on a Likert scale. The questions were designed to evaluate students' attitudes toward assisting patients with sensory impairments and their confidence in helping such patients, as well as their baseline knowledge of how to accommodate them. The first recitation focused on visual impairments, and required students to wear glasses that simulate 5 different impairments. Students performed activities such as reading patient handouts and sorting different colored tablets in order to replicate situations patients may encounter in a pharmacy. Students experimented with different ways to accommodate the impairments, and described to their group what they were seeing and what challenges they encountered. The second activity focused on hearing impairments. Students participated in role play as a pharmacist and a hearing impaired patient. After each activity, students took part in a group discussion. Once both recitations were completed, the students repeated the questionnaire so that the effect of the activities on their answers may be evaluated. Statistical analysis of the results is pending.

Significance: The ultimate goal of the study is to determine if the activities are effective in increasing student awareness and understanding of sensory impairments, as well as increasing students' knowledge of how to accommodate these impairments. If the activities are effective, they may be included in the curriculum for future pharmacy classes.