Developing an Outcome-Based Pharmaceutical Science Curriculum: an Evaluation Based on Triangulation Method

Abstract:

Pharmacy education in Malaysia is aiming in producing and developing pharmacists who are clinical-based and competent in the tasks related to clinical pharmacy. Since a workforce that is well-trained to function in the industrial environment as well as laboratory skills-based is in great demand, the current supply of pharmacy graduates is no longer sufficient enough to support the fast-growing industrial needs. The objective of the research is to design and evaluate an outcome-based pharmaceutical science curriculum. The curriculum was designed by following the ‘design down’ process of OBE (Outcomebased Education) model. Through this model, broad outcomes were formulated first and cascaded down to the more specific outcomes later. The entire curriculum content, instructional method and assessment method were linked to the learning outcomes. The curriculum was then evaluated by the triangulation method, that is, by way of a focus group interview, market survey and documentation checking. The different information obtained from the feedback based on the triangulation method-based data collection approach had provided convincing evidence for the enhancement of the curriculum. Such an approach should be considered in the early stages of curriculum development as a quality screening step before the curriculum is offered to the market.

Key words: Learning Outcomes, Outcome-based Curriculum, Assessment, Pharmaceutical Science.