Int J Pharm Pract 1998:6:30-7
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
J. C. Rothmann, MPharm, lecturer
J. J. Gerber, PhD, senior lecturer
M. S. Lubbe, MPharm, lecturer
Department of Industrial and Personnel Psychology, Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education
G. V. der M. Sieberhagen, DCom, associate professor
S.Rothmann, PhD, senior lecturer
Correspondence: Dr Gerber
Original Papers
Pharmacy students' experiences of the contents of pharmacy education: a phenomenological study
J. C. ROTHMANN, J. J. GERBER, M. S. LUBBE, G. V. der M. SIEBERHAGEN and S. ROTHMANN
Education is high on the agenda of national priorities in South Africa. The changing health care environment in South Africa presents various opportunities and threats to the pharmacy student and his or her training institution. Although a new learner-centred education paradigm is needed to ensure the quality of education, it seems that training institutions are not yet ready to implement such a paradigm. In South Africa, little research has been carried out regarding the facilitation of professional and personal growth as experienced by the student. Twenty-six students at the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education were selected randomly from a population comprising the 104 fourth year pharmacy students, after stratifying the population in terms of sex and academic performance. A qualitative measuring instrument, based on the phenomenological paradigm, was used to determine students' perceptions of the education and practice of pharmacy. Content analysis was used to analyse, quantify and interpret the research data. The students in this study felt that problems were experienced with some subjects, curriculum overload was experienced, subjects were not practically orientated, and some important topics (eg, people skills, and cultural aspects) were not included in the curriculum. Sex and academic performance influenced students' experience of some aspects of the contents of the pharmacy degree course.