Availability of “Drugs in Pregnancy” electives in pharmacy schools

Abstract 

Objectives

Practicing pharmacists frequently encounter questions with regard to the use of drugs in pregnancy or in women planning to become pregnant. A survey was developed to examine and describe the type and extent of curricular integration of this content in schools and colleges of pharmacy.

Methods

A 19-item electronic questionnaire was developed and distributed via multiple list-servs to obtain a response from each Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education–accredited school of pharmacy (96 schools at time of survey administration). For those schools that offered this course, 14 additional questions targeted course design and structure.

Results

Of 81 school responses, 10 schools of pharmacy (12.3%) offered a “Drugs in Pregnancy” course and four schools were developing or considering this course. In schools without specific courses, 93% of respondents stated this material was incorporated into other courses, with 59% indicating that the approach was insufficient.

Conclusion

As pharmacists are consulted about medication use in pregnancy, it is imperative that students are informed about appropriate resources and educated to provide accurate responses. The ability to share curricular models of the incorporation of “Drugs in Pregnancy” courses may encourage assessment of curricular mapping of this content by other schools and colleges of pharmacy.

Keywords: Course, Curriculum, Medication, Pregnant