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Objective: The objective of this study was to compare student learning outcomes, behaviors, and attitudes in a non-prescription drug and self-care therapeutics course taught in the second professional (P2) year vs the first professional (P1) year at one pharmacy school. Methods: Mean performance of students by class year on case consultations and exam scores was compared. Focus groups with student volunteers and course teaching assistants (TAs) and one-on-one interviews with a subset of instructors were conducted by an outside educational evaluation specialist to capture perceptions of student learning behaviors and attitudes. Results: There was no difference in performance on graded case consultations (mean difference = 0.16, P =.74, 95% CI [−0.77 to 1.09]), mid-term examinations (mean difference = 0.53, P =.62, 95% CI [−1.59 to 2.65]), or final examinations (mean difference = 0.73, P =.57, 95% CI [−1.83 to 3.30]) between P1 and P2 students. P1 students reported being more consistent in completing pre-class readings and in feeling less distracted by other courses than did P2 students. Students, TAs, and instructors consistently spoke about advantages of the course in the P1 year (e.g., less stress and greater eagerness to learn and apply skills at work) and disadvantages in the P2 year (e.g., distraction from concurrent P2 integrated pharmacotherapeutics course and tension between real-world experience and constraints of grading rubric). Conclusion: P1 students, despite one year earlier in their curriculum, performed equally well as P2 students. All stakeholders agree that the advantages of teaching a self-care course on students' learning behaviors and attitudes in the P1 year outweigh disadvantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients commonly ask pharmacists for the over-the-counter medications when they get different ailments. Assessment of how a pharmacist evaluates a patient's signs and symptoms and his or her approach to treating the patient using over-the-counter medications were the main goals of this study. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the scenarios on cough, diarrhea and Obesity were selected from questionnaires that had been responded by 61 pharmacists. The scenarios were then designed by determining important questions including the key question using appropriate references and the opinions of a panel of experts. Subsequently, a list of all pharmacies in Isfahan (Iran) was obtained and 210 pharmacies were randomly selected. Final analysis was made on 151 visits to 127 community pharmacies. Performance of pharmacists, i.e. the number and type of questions used to come up with a recommendation and the appropriateness of the decision, was assessed both strictly and leniently. Moreover, the length of time spent for counseling and influence of gender and ownership of pharmacists were analyzed. Findings: The mean counseling time was 130.2 ± 86.1 and 98.6 ± 72.4 seconds for female and male pharmacists, respectively (P = 0.01). The key questions for cough, diarrhea, and Obesity scenarios were asked by 29 (55%), 45 (87%), and 0 (0%) of pharmacists, respectively. The questions led to 25 (47%), 10 (19%), and 8 (17%) appropriate recommendations according to a lenient evaluation. Conclusion: Despite asking the key questions, the majority of pharmacists do not make appropriate recommendations for cough, diarrhea, and especially Obesity. Incorporating relevant courses in the pharmacy curricula and devoting continuing education seminars to over-the-counter medication usage are suggested to improve pharmacists' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]