Development and Application of a Clinical Pharmacy-based General Education Curriculum for Non-pharmacy Undergraduate Students

Background: With the increasing life expectancy in South Korea and growing public interest in health, individuals often turn to the internet for medical information.However, much of the information found online is unreliable, leading to misinformation and difficulty in discerning credible sources.This study addresses the need to improve health information literacy among non-pharmacy students through a clinical pharmacy-based general education course.Methods: A curriculum was developed by analyzing existing programs, conducting focus group interviews (FGI), and surveying students to identify their needs.The course, designed for non-pharmacy students, was implemented over one semester.The course utilized multimedia resources and interactive teaching methods to engage students.Results: The course effectively increased students' understanding of health and medication-related issues.The course contents include the definition and classification of medication, contraception, medication use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, narcotics / controlled substances / alcohol / smoking / caffeine, obesity / obesity treatments, allergic diseases, acne / skin infections, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, hypertension / stroke, diabetes, and gastrointestinal diseases.Students reported high satisfaction with topics like contraception and mental health and demonstrated an improved ability to critically evaluate health information.The curriculum's interactive approach and practical application contributed to a deeper understanding of key concepts and information literacy.Conclusion: This study demonstrates the importance of developing clinical pharmacy-based general education courses for non-pharmacy students to enhance their ability to assess health information.The findings suggest that such courses can positively impact students' knowledge and decision-making skills regarding health, offering a valuable educational model for addressing the challenges of misinformation in the digital age.