Psychopharmacology teaching and learning methodology: Medical students feedback from a private medical school of Nepal

Abstract

Background:

Psychotropic drugs that are taught in Pharmacology under the curriculum of Kathmandu University in the fourth-semester compromise of antipsychotics, antidepressants, antimanic and antianxiety medications. A medical student finds it quite difficult in the conceptualization. The main objective of the study was to research the student’s feedback about the teaching and learning methodology of Psychopharmacology with an aim to improve medical education of Pharmacology in future.

Methods:

This observational questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was done at Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Nepal. Questionnaire validation tests showed that the Alpha Cronbach was 0.72. 

Results:

Out of 132 students, 127 students filled the questionnaire properly with an overall response rate of 96.21%. 81.9% of the students replied that Psychopharmacology teaching and learning activity is an important lesson for the MBBS curriculum. Antipsychotics were the most interesting part. 71.7% of the students found it difficult to understand the mechanism of action of antidepressants. It was found that Male student [OR 1.773 95% (CI (0.712, 4.411)] Psychopharmacology is an important lesson for MBBS Curriculum as compared to females. Male students found it difficult to remember the generic names of antimanic drugs [OR 33.75 95% (CI (4.023, 283.168)], antipsychotics [OR 19.091 95% CI (3.733, 7.627)] and [OR 8.017 95% CI (1.685, 38.148)] as compared to females.

Conclusion:

Psychopharmacology teaching and learning methodology is an important aspect of Pharmacology. Antidepressants are the difficult most part. Thus with proper intervention and improvement in the teaching and learning methodology, this problem can be solved in future.