An Elective Course in Women’s Health Issues

Abstract

Purpose: To develop, implement, and evaluate an elective course for the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum that provides

students with a comprehensive overview of women’s health across the lifespan and exposes them to social and economic issues that

impact women’s health. Case Study: At the time of this writing, the class has been delivered 3 times to a total of 56 students.

Students read and discussed (both in-class and online) timely articles in women’s health issues on topics including sex-based biology;

women in clinical trials; maternal and child health; women’s health coverage and access to care in the United States; gender and

health communication; abuse and the role of healthcare professionals; and international issues in women’s health and women’s

rights. Students completed a pre- and post-test; developed seminar presentations regarding women’s health issues; wrote reflective

essays about the course; and designed and implemented health promotion projects for National Women’s Health Week (NWHW). At

the end of the course, the number of correct answers on the post-test significantly improved from the pre-test (p<0.001). Through

anonymous course evaluations, students indicated that the assignments fulfilled the learning objectives (mean 4.68 on a 5-point

Likert scale) and the exercises were useful in helping their understanding of the material (mean 4.66 on a 5-point Likert scale). Over

500 women from the campus and community participated in the NWHW projects. Implications: An elective course was designed to

educate pharmacy students regarding women’s health issues and to provide students with an opportunity to perform community

outreach.