Integration of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Developing an Elective Course in Contemporary Compounding

A 3-quarter-hour elective course in compounding is offered to third-year pharmacy students. The objective for this course, which involves a lecture component and extensive laboratory experience, is to strengthen students' proficiency in prescription compounding. Dosage forms compounded include troches, lip-balms, suspensions, gels, ointments, suppositories, ophthalmics, and IV admixtures. Topics discussed target the need for compounding, compounding versus manufacturing, and legal aspects involved. Each student is given an independent formulation project. Students utilize library resources to prepare a written report, order required supplies, and compound the product. Approximately 92% of the students surveyed after taking the course felt more competent in their compounding skills and knowledge after taking this course. Students agreed that a combination of lectures, laboratories, and project helped them gain a better understanding of the subject.