Abstract:

Specialty pharmaceuticals are differentiated from traditional drugs in their typical requirement of intense clinical monitoring to manage severe side effects, frequent adjustments in dosage, and/or specialized training for handling and administration. These medicinal products pose challenges for patients due to their complexity, needing proper instruction from pharmacists. Their inappropriate utilization can lead to several public health issues, including suboptimal therapeutic outcomes, misuse of healthcare resources, and adverse health effects. Therefore, it is crucial for pharmacy students to acquire comprehensive knowledge about these products and their administration, along with the skills to effectively communicate this information to their future patients. The main objective of this study was to improve the learning process and communication skills of pharmacy students in the subject of Pharmaceutical Care, by using virtual animations for the proper handling of specialty pharmaceuticals. To do so, digital content showing the different steps involved in the use of the Accuhaler inhaler was developed and presented to the students during lessons. The effectiveness of this alternative method was compared to traditional learning approaches, based on students' perceptions of the knowledge they acquired. The results indicate that students who engaged with the audiovisual content reported a higher perception of knowledge in several aspects of inhaler administration compared to those who received traditional pharmaceutical industry content. These aspects included closing the inhaler casing, the necessity of rinsing the mouth after inhalation, loading the dose, and performing the inhalation correctly. The audiovisual content not only facilitated greater knowledge acquisition regarding specialty pharmaceuticals but also highlighted its potential application across various subjects and courses within the university. This innovative approach promises to enhance student motivation and interest, providing a new and effective educational tool.

Keywords:

Specialty pharmaceuticals, virtual animation, healthcare, teaching innovation.