Advancing A Patient-centered Care Curriculum For Pharmacy Students: Innovation With Universities In Developing Countries

• By: PHALLA, Tammy (Vennue Foundation, Sudan)
• Co-author(s): Mr Sovanrith Phalla (Vennue Foundation, Cambodia)
  Md Mirajul Islam (Vennue Foundation, Bangladesh)
  Mohammad Abusyed (Vennue Foundation, Bangladesh)
  Mandip Pokharel (Vennue Foundation, Nepal)
  Tammy Allen (Vennue Foundation, United States)
  Ms Abda Kamaleldin Elsiddig Elamin (Vennue Foundation, Sudan)
  Remy Pacifique Ntirenganya (Vennue Foundation, Rwanda)
  Hiroki Watarai (Vennue Foundation, United States)
  
• Abstract:

  Introduction
  
  Vennue™ is a US nonprofit organization offering innovative pharmacy workforce education programs to improve patient care and health outcomes in developing countries.
  
  Building on five years of successful program results with hospitals and community pharmacies in Southeast Asia, in 2021 Vennue introduced its workforce training model to universities in Bangladesh and Cambodia -- to help pharmacy schools prepare students to become effective providers of Patient-Centered Care.
  
  Vennue partnered with the University of Puthisastra in Cambodia and the University of Science and Technology Chittagong in Bangladesh to provide pharmacy departments with opportunities to access Vennue's proprietary curriculum in Patient-Centered Care.
  
  Aims
  
  This new program explored the impact of on-campus, joint initiatives to enhance pharmacy students' academic experience and practical skills. The program gave pharmacy students and faculty cost-free, open access to Vennue's educational materials as they progressed through university requirements, while providing a unique forum to collaboratively learn, exchange ideas and network. It aimed to foster new enthusiasm for the Patient-Centered Care model and a collective commitment to lifelong learning to support their professional careers and responsibilities.
  
  Methods
  
  From September 2021 to April 2023, pharmacy students at each university were enrolled in a series of on-campus training programs, led by Vennue’s in-country Program Managers through a blended learning model – giving learners access to both traditional classroom instruction and online resources through the Vennue Digital Hub (hub.vennue.org):
  
  a) Custom-Designed Training Program: Collaborated with university faculty to design a curriculum appropriate for local pharmacy practice.
  b) Bilingual Instruction: Led on-campus, interactive seminars to introduce the Patient-Centered Care model, including case studies, dynamic role-play activities, and standard operating procedures. Number of sessions ranged from 10 to 30, depending on academic needs and preferences
  c) Access to Information: Provided access to credible medical and pharmaceutical information. All faculty and students utilize the Vennue Digital Hub to access continuing education opportunities and benefit from ongoing professional support.
  d) Key Performance Indicators: Measured progress toward program objectives by administering surveys, collecting and analyzing data on the knowledge and practice of pharmacy care, and interviewing students and faculty.
  
  Results
  
  In total, 375 pharmacy students completed the courses to earn Certifications in Patient-Centered Care. The program enabled university students to achieve gains in knowledge as measured by pre/post-tests for each training session (Cambodia: 20.22%, Bangladesh: 27.26%) and to increase cumulative Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice from baseline to end-line: (Cambodia: 7.76%, Bangladesh: 23.86%). It also advanced collaboration and confidence, as reported in surveys and interviews.
  
  Conclusion
  
  The program advanced pharmacy students' readiness to deliver high-quality Patient-Centered Care, and their capacity to improve community health outcomes in Cambodia and Bangladesh.
  
  This initiative helps illuminate the role of innovative academic partnerships to help transform patient care. It demonstrates how a collaborative, cost-effective program that can be offered on campus to enrich the university experience -- to prepare the next generation of pharmacists to provide the best care possible to every patient.
  
  Vennue's pharmacy education model is built for scale -- not only in Southeast Asia but throughout the developing world.