Designing and Implementing a Practical Course of "Pharmacotherapy in Special Populations" for Medical Interns.

Introduction: Learning how to use medications rationally is an important and key issue in medical education. The aims of this study were needs assessment, designing and implementing practical training on pharmacotherapeutic issues in special populations (pregnant women, nursing mothers who are breastfeeding, infants, and elders) for medical interns. Methods: This study was conducted in two consequent stages. The first stage was carried out by holding focus groups with medical residents who were randomly selected. For this purpose, six separate sessions with four groups of four to five-member residents were held to determine educational needs about pharmacotherapy in special populations. Notes from group discussions were taken. Then in the next stage, the viewpoints of 12 medical graduates who were chosen by purposive sampling were asked about the importance and priority of defined objectives. Finally, the curriculum of this course was designed and implemented based on achieved educational needs and objectives. Results: Sixteen major training needs were defined based on needs assessment. The most important needs of medical interns in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in this regard were recognizing oral and topical medications as well as injections and inhalers; special considerations about pharmacotherapy in special populations, especially pregnant women, mothers who are breast-feeding, infants, elders and patients with advanced renal failure; and also knowledge about respiratory, dermatology, hepatic and renal diseases due to drug administration. Conclusion: Providing education about the above mentioned needs seems to be necessary for promoting medical graduates competency in rational use of medications according to therapeutic and physiologic needs of special populations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]