Impact of distance education on academic performance in a pharmaceutical care course

The objective of this study was to compare the performance of pharmacy students from a Pharmaceutical Care course, taught in both distance education (DE) and campus-based formats using active methodologies. For two semesters, students (n = 82) taking the course studied half the subject in the distance education format and half in person. Questionnaires were applied at the beginning of the semester aimed to outline the demographic profile of the students. Their grade in the course was evaluated to determine their performance. The Module 1 (Information on Medication) average on the campus-based was 7.1225 and on DE was 7.5519, (p = 0.117). The Module 2 (Pharmaceutical Services) average on the campus-based was 7.1595 and on distance education was 7.7025, (p = 0.027*). There was a difference in learning outcomes in the Pharmaceutical Care Course between face-to-face and distant education. Therefore, the student performance was better in the distance education module, indicating distance education can be satisfactorily used in Pharmacy Programs.

本研究旨在对比采用主动教学法的《药学服务》课程中，以远程教育（distance education, DE）与校园面授两种形式修读的药学专业学生的学习表现。本次研究持续两个学期，共纳入82名修读本课程的学生，每位学生需分别以远程教育形式完成一半课程内容，以线下面授形式完成另一半课程内容。学期初通过发放问卷调研梳理学生的人口统计学特征，并以课程最终成绩作为评估其学习表现的指标。模块1（药物信息，Information on Medication）的面授组平均成绩为7.1225，远程教育组为7.5519（p=0.117）；模块2（药学服务，Pharmaceutical Services）的面授组平均成绩为7.1595，远程教育组为7.7025（p=0.027*）。结果显示，《药学服务》课程的学习成果在面授与远程教育模式间存在显著差异，学生在远程教育模块中的表现更优，表明远程教育可较好地应用于药学专业课程教学中。