Development of visual pharmacology education across an integrated medical school curriculum

Abstract

Teaching clinical pharmacology in an integrated medical curriculum requires an approach that is consistently provided across the curriculum. Using a graphical language, a self-study database program was developed. The database contains pharmacological mechanisms shown interacting with pathophysiological processes. The program contains illustrations, animations, feedback questions, and cases which are developed together with basic science and clinical teachers. Learning efficiency is assessed by: number of courses adopting the database; number of students using the program, and percentage of students per course. Database use was monitored over five years. Students increasingly use the program as they progress through the curriculum.