Using podcasts to support pharmacological understanding in Non-Medical

Using podcasts to support pharmacological understanding in Non-Medical Prescribing Students? Dr. Joanne Lymn

Non-Medical Prescribing (NMP) ¡ Following qualification nurses have similar prescribing rights to doctors. ¡ Understanding of pharmacological concepts hugely important for patient safety ¡ 56 hours of pharmacology ¡ Approximately 50% of NMP students have no more than a GCSE in a biological science (Lymn, Bath-Hextall & Wharrad 2008).

Pharmacological Understanding among NMP students ¡ ¡ ¡ NMP students often express anxiety about the subject of pharmacology during their NMP course. Students often admit that learning pharmacological concepts is like learning a new language. Extra tutorial support is often necessary in this subject.

Why podcasts? ¡ ¡ ¡ Learning a foreign language – important to be able to listen & listen again NMP course is Web. CT based – links can be added into Web. CT. Mobile learning - audio content can be downloaded to MP 3 s, i. PODs etc and listened to on the move.

Methodology ¡ ¡ 7 key pharmacology lectures were recorded using MP 3 recording equipment available within the university. Recordings were edited using ‘Audacity’ and uploaded on to the university server. Links to individual podcasts, and the associated downloadable MP 3 files were added to the NMP Web. CT site. Student use of podcasts monitored Web. CT tracking

Methodology 2 ¡ ¡ Postal questionnaire sent to two cohorts of students who had access to podcasts Identification of high, medium and low/non users Semi-structured interviews conducted with 3 high, medium and low users Comparison of exam scores from cohorts with access to podcasts with historical cohorts (no access to podcasts)

Demographics Male 14% > 50 Female 86% < 30 30 - 40 40 - 49 Age of NMP students (years)

Computer Access ¡ ¡ ¡ 100% students had access to a computer Only 42% rated their comfort levels with internet technology as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ 63% had access to an i. Pod or MP 3 player

Student Use of the Podcasts Web CT tracking results: Directly through Web. CT 81% 83% of students accessed at least one podcast. As an MP 3 for download to MP 3 player / i. Pod 7% 10% Links to the podcasts were clicked 376 times which a range of 0 to 48 clicks per student. Combination of methods Other methods 2%

Student Use of the Podcasts ¡ Reasons why students used the podcasts: Revisiting lecture 88% Revision Specific question Missed session 77% 59% 18%

Use of podcasts for a specific question ¡ ¡ ¡ 93% of students who used the podcasts for a specific question found the answer. 56% rated it easy or very easy to find the answer 23% of students generally listened to selected parts of the podcast (77% of students generally listened to the entire podcast)

Student responders (%) 40 30 20 10 Student responders (%) 0 very unhelpful 70 helpful Very helpful 50 Usefulness as a revision aid unhelpful neither 60 helpful Very helpful 70 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 unhelpful neither Usefulness as a learning tool very unhelpful Very helpful unhelpful neither 80 Student responders (%) 0 very unhelpful Student perception of the usefulness of podcasts Usefulness in promoting understanding 60 50 40 30 20 10

Student feedback on pharmacology podcasts. Qualitative Feedback “An excellent learning tool to reinforce my understanding of the basics of dynamics, kinetics & ANS. I would not have understood these subjects without revisiting the lecture time & again” “I used it as a repetitive tool to familiarise myself with terminology I hadn’t heard before – to promote my comfort – to then go on and digest the subject. ” “Podcasts were a great way to learn and revisit! Excellent learning tool!! Thank you. ” “Absolutely brilliant as an assistant to course content. ”

4. 7 4. 6 4. 5 4. 4 4. 3 4. 2 4. 1 4 3. 9 3. 8 *** 8. 5 Exam score (out of 10) Exam score (out of 5) Student knowledge – measured by exam score Pharmacokinetics No podcasts Analgesia 8. 4 8. 3 8. 2 8. 1 8 7. 9 7. 8 Autonomic Nervous System Podcasts Statistical analysis was performed by unpaired t-test, *** p = 0. 001

SEM – What did you like about this module? (January 08) Web. CT, podcasts, RLOs, workbooks – I found these an invaluable resource. More podcasts would be helpful for revision / missed lectures. Workbooks, podcasts and RLOs all excellent. Podcasts were very useful. Podcasts are really good. Podcasts and RLOs very helpful and aid learning

Student feedback on pharmacology podcasts. Qualitative Feedback “Just wanted to say that all lectures should be made available in this format. It really was invaluable as a revision tool for busy people” “I feel it would be good to have more of the pharmacology lectures put onto podcast eg cardiovascular, antimicrobials etc” “For pharmacists pharmacology podcasts probably less helpful than for nurses. Some stuff on ethics and examinations would be helpful. ” “The podcasts should be used in all courses. They are very useful. ”

Disadvantages of podcasts. ¡ ¡ Time consuming Managing students unrealistic expectations Encourage dependency Encourage ‘rote learning’ rather than developing understanding