Perception of Clinical Year Medical Students on Teaching and Learning of Pharmacology in a Second-Generation University in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Objective:There is a global dearth of clinical pharmacologists despite the critical role clinical pharmacology plays in health-care delivery, not only in developing economies like Nigeria but worldwide. There is also a growing negative attitude among undergraduate medical students towards pharmacology. In a bid to control this trend, there is a need to assess the attitude and feedback of medical students in teaching and learning of pharmacology. This will provide a platform from which appropriate intervention can be effected.Materials and Methods:It was a cross-sectional descriptive study using semi-structured self-administered questionnaires. A total of 167, 500 and 600 levels medical students participated in the study selected by multistage sampling technique. The questionnaire was designed based on a 4-point Likert scale, containing three sections. The data generated were analyzed using SPSS statistics version 20.Results:Majority of the respondents were males within age brackets of 18–25 years. Only 22.6% (odds, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.20–0.42) agreed to consider taking pharmacology as a specialty at postgraduate training; none was strongly inclined. Majority (98.7%, odds, 76.5; 95% CI, 20.8–281) of the participants agreed that pharmacology is important, exciting, and indispensable in clinical practice. About 72.9 of the students (odds, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.89–3.83) admitted that pharmacology was difficult and volatile. Slightly over 70% favored audiovisual-aided lecture during class session.Conclusion:Despite demonstrated interest in pharmacology, there was general negative attitude toward it among the respondents.