What do pharmacy students need to know about biochemistry?

Abstract

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine what students need to know about biochemistry in order to practice pharmacy. Methods: With reference to a list of learning objectives, educators interviewed students during their advanced clinical rotations, asking if they had used each item in practice. Each item was then rated according to the number and strength of affirmative responses. The ratings were used to identify the elements of biochemistry most strongly recognised as relevant to clinical practice. Results: All of the learning objectives received affirmative responses, indicating that each was recalled or used by some respondent(s). The most highly rated objectives indicate aspects of biochemistry most closely related to clinical practice. Conclusion: The results provide guidance to educators for designing biochemistry courses, highlighting recognisable connections between biochemistry and clinical practice, and areas where relevance may need to be made clearer or re-evaluated.