Implementation of the WHO-6-step method in the medical curriculum to improve pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills (2024)

Keijsers, C. J. P. W., Segers, W. S., de Wildt, D. J., Brouwers, J. R. B. J., Keijsers, L., & Jansen, P. A. F. (2015). Implementation of the WHO-6-step method in the medical curriculum to improve pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 79(6), 896-906. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12575

Keijsers, Carolina J.P.W. ; Segers, Wieke S. ; de Wildt, Dick J. et al. / Implementation of the WHO-6-step method in the medical curriculum to improve pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills. In: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2015 ; Vol. 79, No. 6. pp. 896-906.

@article{0b4029e0107842d68911635151d0e4ea,

title = "Implementation of the WHO-6-step method in the medical curriculum to improve pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills",

abstract = "AIM: The only validated tool for pharmacotherapy education for medical students is the 6-step method of the World Health Organization. It has proven effective in experimental studies with short term interventions. The generalizability of this effect after implementation in a contextual-rich medical curriculum was investigated.METHODS: The pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills of cohorts of students, from years before, during and after implementation of a WHO-6-step-based integrated learning programme were tested using a standardized assessment containing 50 items covering knowledge of basic (n = 25) and clinical (n = 24) pharmacology, and pharmacotherapy skills (n = 1 open question). All scores are expressed as a percentage of the maximum score possible per (sub)domain.RESULTS: In total, 1652 students were included between September 2010 and July 2014 (participation rate 89%). The WHO-6-step-based learning programme improved students' knowledge of basic pharmacology (mean score ± SD, 60.6 ± 10.5% vs. 63.4 ± 10.9%, P < 0.01) and clinical or applied pharmacology (63.7 ± 10.4% vs. 67.4 ± 10.3%, P < 0.01), and improved their pharmacotherapy skills (68.8 ± 26.1% vs. 74.6% ± 22.9%, P 0.02). Moreover, satisfaction with education increased (5.7 ± 1.3 vs. 6.3 ± 1.0 on a 10-point scale, P < 0.01) and as did students' confidence in daily practice (from -0.81 ± 0.72 to -0.50 ± 0.79 on a -2 to +2 scale, P < 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: The WHO-6-step method was successfully implemented in a medical curriculum. In this observational study, the integrated learning programme had positive effects on students' knowledge of basic and applied pharmacology, improved their pharmacotherapy skills, and increased satisfaction with education and self-confidence in prescribing. Whether this training method leads to better patient care remains to be established.",

author = "Keijsers, {Carolina J.P.W.} and Segers, {Wieke S.} and {de Wildt}, {Dick J.} and Brouwers, {Jacobus R.B.J.} and Loes Keijsers and Jansen, {Paul A F}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2015 The British Pharmacological Society.",

year = "2015",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1111/bcp.12575",

language = "English",

volume = "79",

pages = "896--906",

journal = "British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology",

issn = "0306-5251",

publisher = "Wiley",

number = "6",

}

Keijsers, CJPW, Segers, WS, de Wildt, DJ, Brouwers, JRBJ, Keijsers, L & Jansen, PAF 2015, 'Implementation of the WHO-6-step method in the medical curriculum to improve pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills', British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, vol. 79, no. 6, pp. 896-906. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12575

Implementation of the WHO-6-step method in the medical curriculum to improve pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills. / Keijsers, Carolina J.P.W.; Segers, Wieke S.; de Wildt, Dick J. et al.
In: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Vol. 79, No. 6, 06.2015, p. 896-906.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Implementation of the WHO-6-step method in the medical curriculum to improve pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills

AU - Keijsers, Carolina J.P.W.

AU - Segers, Wieke S.

AU - de Wildt, Dick J.

AU - Brouwers, Jacobus R.B.J.

AU - Keijsers, Loes

AU - Jansen, Paul A F

N1 - © 2015 The British Pharmacological Society.

PY - 2015/6

Y1 - 2015/6

N2 - AIM: The only validated tool for pharmacotherapy education for medical students is the 6-step method of the World Health Organization. It has proven effective in experimental studies with short term interventions. The generalizability of this effect after implementation in a contextual-rich medical curriculum was investigated.METHODS: The pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills of cohorts of students, from years before, during and after implementation of a WHO-6-step-based integrated learning programme were tested using a standardized assessment containing 50 items covering knowledge of basic (n = 25) and clinical (n = 24) pharmacology, and pharmacotherapy skills (n = 1 open question). All scores are expressed as a percentage of the maximum score possible per (sub)domain.RESULTS: In total, 1652 students were included between September 2010 and July 2014 (participation rate 89%). The WHO-6-step-based learning programme improved students' knowledge of basic pharmacology (mean score ± SD, 60.6 ± 10.5% vs. 63.4 ± 10.9%, P < 0.01) and clinical or applied pharmacology (63.7 ± 10.4% vs. 67.4 ± 10.3%, P < 0.01), and improved their pharmacotherapy skills (68.8 ± 26.1% vs. 74.6% ± 22.9%, P 0.02). Moreover, satisfaction with education increased (5.7 ± 1.3 vs. 6.3 ± 1.0 on a 10-point scale, P < 0.01) and as did students' confidence in daily practice (from -0.81 ± 0.72 to -0.50 ± 0.79 on a -2 to +2 scale, P < 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: The WHO-6-step method was successfully implemented in a medical curriculum. In this observational study, the integrated learning programme had positive effects on students' knowledge of basic and applied pharmacology, improved their pharmacotherapy skills, and increased satisfaction with education and self-confidence in prescribing. Whether this training method leads to better patient care remains to be established.

AB - AIM: The only validated tool for pharmacotherapy education for medical students is the 6-step method of the World Health Organization. It has proven effective in experimental studies with short term interventions. The generalizability of this effect after implementation in a contextual-rich medical curriculum was investigated.METHODS: The pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills of cohorts of students, from years before, during and after implementation of a WHO-6-step-based integrated learning programme were tested using a standardized assessment containing 50 items covering knowledge of basic (n = 25) and clinical (n = 24) pharmacology, and pharmacotherapy skills (n = 1 open question). All scores are expressed as a percentage of the maximum score possible per (sub)domain.RESULTS: In total, 1652 students were included between September 2010 and July 2014 (participation rate 89%). The WHO-6-step-based learning programme improved students' knowledge of basic pharmacology (mean score ± SD, 60.6 ± 10.5% vs. 63.4 ± 10.9%, P < 0.01) and clinical or applied pharmacology (63.7 ± 10.4% vs. 67.4 ± 10.3%, P < 0.01), and improved their pharmacotherapy skills (68.8 ± 26.1% vs. 74.6% ± 22.9%, P 0.02). Moreover, satisfaction with education increased (5.7 ± 1.3 vs. 6.3 ± 1.0 on a 10-point scale, P < 0.01) and as did students' confidence in daily practice (from -0.81 ± 0.72 to -0.50 ± 0.79 on a -2 to +2 scale, P < 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: The WHO-6-step method was successfully implemented in a medical curriculum. In this observational study, the integrated learning programme had positive effects on students' knowledge of basic and applied pharmacology, improved their pharmacotherapy skills, and increased satisfaction with education and self-confidence in prescribing. Whether this training method leads to better patient care remains to be established.

U2 - 10.1111/bcp.12575

DO - 10.1111/bcp.12575

M3 - Article

C2 - 25556708

SN - 0306-5251

VL - 79

SP - 896

EP - 906

JO - British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

JF - British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

IS - 6

ER -

Keijsers CJPW, Segers WS, de Wildt DJ, Brouwers JRBJ, Keijsers L, Jansen PAF. Implementation of the WHO-6-step method in the medical curriculum to improve pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2015 Jun;79(6):896-906. doi: 10.1111/bcp.12575