Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9237

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Charupatanapong N, McCormick WC, Zatopek S.
Learning experience from community pharmacy owners
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting 1994 Jul; 95:

Abstract:

In order for pharmacy students to learn how to operate a community pharmacy, they were asked to work as a team to complete a project involving outside learning experience. During fall 1993, a total of 45 pharmacy students who took the community pharmacy ownership course at the University of Houston were allowed to choose their team members and 1 of the topics from a list. There was a total of 12 groups consisting of 2 to 5 pharmacy students. The topics selected by these students were pharmacy computer, inventory management, prescription pricing, human resources management, business plan development, purchasing an established pharmacy, location analysis, pharmacy layout and design, merchandising, and promotions and advertising. Each group contacted and scheduled a personal interview with an independent pharmacy owner. They designed and developed their questions for the interviews, shared what they learned in class during presentations, and turned in a written report. The presentations were videotaped and several materials including pictures of the stores, videotapes, handouts, diagrams, and flow charts were used by these students. A report guideline was distributed and its content included introduction, interview content, criticism, and evaluation. On average, students rated their knowledge gain at 74% and the project itself at 85%. They learned how to work as a team, how practical experience was different from textbook concepts, how to survive in a competitive market, and how to actually apply management skills in the real world.