Drug information - can the Internet train the health care student?

Michelle Wake and Linda Lisgarten
Deputy Librarian and Head of Library and Information Service
The Library and Information Service, The School of Pharmacy, University of London,
29-39 Brunswick Square - London WC1N 1AX (United Kingdom)
michwood@ulsop.ac.uk, linda.lisgarten@ulsop.ac.uk

Introduction

The amount of drug information available on-line, as with all biomedical information, has boomed1.

Pharmacy educators and students are now increasingly embracing the technology. Sometimes it is just accessing the traditional sources but using a new medium, for example bibliographic databases. But with the development of course delivery software such as WebCT (http://WebCT.com), there are moves towards specifically designed courses using quality selected sources which are often delivered on Intranets.

The total virtual school of pharmacy is technically possible but, as leading pharmacy educators are emphasing, its desirability, especially at undergraduate level, is questionable2.

Development of Online Teaching

Joseph T. DiPiro has provided a summary of what is available and it is clear that online teaching has been pioneered by the non-health sector. However, pharmacy courses are now moving into this method of teaching. The USA has led the way in undergraduate4,5 and postgraduate studies6,7 ,8 . 

The European Commission has recognised the usefulness of the Internet as a training tool for qualified pharmacists by developing a programme on Over the Counter medicines at http://www.imim.es/tesemed.

The University of Brighton began using an Intranet for MPharm (undergraduate) students in September 1997 to supplement traditional methods9. At undergraduate level, online teaching forms only part of courses. However,at postgraduate level, universities are developing entire courses10,11.

Advantages of Online Learning

Several studies have shown that online study for single modules in pharmacy courses has benefits. For example the undergraduate students at De Montfort University studying pharmaceutical microbiology and biotechnology online achieved better assessment results than previous students who used only traditional methods12.

Other advantages:

  • Can improve student learning.
  • Reduces the use of animals.
  • Can practice clinical pharmacy safely on a computer model before tackling real-life patients.

    Disadvantages of Online Learning
     

  • Lack of student-teacher interaction and student-student interaction. Use of email leads to a delay in obtaining a reply to a query.

  • May require much more of the teachers' time13.
  • Can be costly - up to $500,000 per year14.
  • Need high specification computers with Internet access - preferably off-campus as well as on-campus.

  • Eyestrain and the preference of many for the printed page leads to printers being heavily used and this puts the cost up for the student and/or the institution.

  • Technical problems with computers, such as crashing and slow online connections, can delay study and cause frustration.

  • Teachers and students must be computer literate

  • Teaching and research might suffer if academic staff spend less time on-campus and so miss out on collaboration with other researchers.

  • Drop-out rates from courses which are taught purely online can be high15.

  • If online resources are used as a depository for lecture material, in a mixed media course, there is a risk that some students will not attend lectures.

  • Increased plagiarism16.
  • Student results don't always improve17,18.
  • Sometimes there is no substitute to hands-on experience. 

    How Libraries Can Help 

    As Gordon Brewer has written19, with the new technology higher education librariesare basically doing what they have always done but with a new medium which increases remote access. Academic libraries are continuing to:

  • Provide access to organised information for teaching and research.
  • Give timely access to teacher selected course material.
  • Provide help in the use of course material.

    The skills that make librarians experts at finding, appraising and organising information ensures thatonline teaching doesn't have to be a threat but can be an opportunity.

    Libraries are helping by;

  • Providing guidance on the selection of electronic sources of information to academics and students.

  • Many libraries have already developed their own Web sites which highlight quality Online resources. Indeed Librarians could influence greatly and become part of the new profession of Web masters20.

  • Creating an electronic library.

  • Libraries have experience of authenticating and authorizing users for online services.

  • Helping students to develop skills in locating and using electronic sources.
  • Advising on copyright issues.
  • Providing expertise with data protection rules and regulations.
  • Make academics aware of the archival issues.

    Disadvantages of Electronic Library
     

  • It is not always easy to judge the quality of electronic information.
  • Difficult to browse.

  • Economic problems. As yet publishers are unsure of how to provide electronic access and receive adequate payment. This has resulted in libraries having to cope with many different licensing agreements.

  • Access to electronic information may involve a range of passwords and usernames.

  • Archival problems and lack of legal deposit requirements.
  • Lack of social interaction21.
  • Libraries are often expected to maintain traditional services, whilst providing the new, without additional funding.
  • Staff workload increases.

    The Advantages of the Electronic Library
     

  • Can be used as an opportunity to increase contact with academic staff.
  • A chance for library staff to demonstrate their information skills.
  • Opportunity to learn new skills in IT and teaching.

  • Increased use of IT in academic institutions has led to convergence between library and computing departments - although this is often more operational than organizational. This can lead to a positive exchange of skills between the two sections.


    Conclusion

    The advantages and increasing use of the Internet by patients, other health-care professionals and in the workplace dictates that pharmacy schools ensure their graduates enter the profession with a thorough IT background. Online teaching is already with us and libraries can make a positive contribution.


    References

     1. Wake M, Lisgarten, L.  Pharmacy resources on the Internet. In: A guide to healthcare resources on the Internet.  R Kiley (Ed) Royal Society of Medicine Press, 2001
     2. Fincham JE.  A school of pharmacy without walls - Virtual? Reality??  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2000; 64: 101-102
     3. DiPiro JT.  The virtual university - higher education 'on-line'.  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education  1999; 63: 170-174
     4. Mehvar R.  On-line, individualized, and interactive pharmacokinetic scenarios with immediate grading and feedback and potential for use by multiple instructors.  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 1999; 63: 348-353
     5. Faulkner TP, Sprague JE.  Application of several multimedia approaches to the teaching of CNS pharmacology: Parkinson's disease and antiparkinsonism drugs.  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 1996; 60: 417-421
     6. Bastean JN, Bostean BD.  Internet continuing education resource: web sites featuring  pharmacy continuing education (part1).  Hospital Pharmacy 2000; 35: 432-442
     7. Bastean JN, Bostean BD.  Internet continuing education resource: web sites featuring  pharmacy continuing education (part2).  Hospital Pharmacy 2000; 35: 651-665
     8. Trinkle R.  Pharmacy continuing education on the Internet.  Pharmacotherapy 1999; 19: 909-921
     9. Sosabowski MH, Herson K, Lloyd AW.  Implementation and student assessment of Intranet-based learning resources.  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 1998; 62: 302-306
    10. Nottingham pharmacy school launches online diploma.  Pharmaceutical Journal 2000; 264: 869
    11. Savage I.  Distance learning with a difference at Derby University.  Pharmaceutical Journal 2000; 264: 411-413
    12. Andrew M.  Use of Web-based learning to teach pharmacy undergraduates.  Pharmaceutical Journal 2000; 265: 558-562
    13. Dearing R.  Higher education in the learning society.  Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education.  1997 [http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ncihe/index.htm]
    14. Noble DF.  Digital diploma mills: the automation of higher education.  First Monday 1998: 3(1) [http://firstMonday.dk/issues3_1/noble/index.html]
    15. O'Neil C, Poirier T.  Online Doctor of Pharmacy program for pharmacy practitioners: development and evaluation of six pilot courses.  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education  2000; 64: 272-276
    16. Ethical dilemas: plagiarism is a growing problem.  Pharmacy-in-Practice 1999; 9(2): 48
    17. Woodward DK.  Virtual-recitation: a World wide Web based approach to active learning in clinical pharmacokinetics. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 1998; 62: 329-332.
    18. Faulkner TP, Sprague JE.  Application of several multimedia approaches to the teaching of CNS pharmacology: Parkinson's disease and antiparkinsonism drugs.  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 1996; 60: 417-421
    19. Brewer G.  Derby doesn't do it by the book.  The Times Higher June 9th 2000: 45
    20. Rowlands J, Forrester W, Coelho L, Cardy L, Yeadon J.  Opportunities on the Web: a role for information professionals, using the development of the BMA Library online service as a case study.  Health Information and Libraries Journal 2001; 18: 45-53
    21. Edwards C, Day JM, Walton G (Eds).  Monitoring organisational and cultural change: the impact on people of electronic libraries: the IMPEL2 project, Joint Information Systems Committee  1998 

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