NPC

An online model to improve prescribing skills of health care professional students in Australia

Abstract

The National Prescribing Curriculum (NPC) is a series of case-based modules that mirror the decision-making process outlined in the World Health Organisation's Guide to Good Prescribing. The emphasis is on learners building their own formulary of preferred drugs for specific conditions thereby enabling them to prescribe confidently and rationally. The modules were developed to overcome shortfalls in basic pharmacological knowledge and prescribing skills as identified by junior hospital doctors. Problem Base Learning (PBL) has been used as pedagogical approach for the modules and includes real life case scenarios, authentic tasks and expert peer feedbacks. Learners can access the modules at their own pace and also can revisit them upon completion. We report for the first time students? perceptions of the NPC as learning resource and usability issues, and how academics are embedding the NPC modules into their units. We also discuss limitations and possible areas of improvement.