Integration of Pharmacy Law into Experiential Learning: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background 

Pharmacy education has increasingly moved away from traditional classroom teaching towards a more hands-on, competency-based approach that focuses on applying pharmaceutical knowledge in real-world settings such as hospitals, community pharmacies, and industrial healthcare environments.Although this shift has transformed how students learn, pharmacy law is still mostly taught through lectures, which might not give students enough opportunity to understand and apply the legal aspects they will encounter in their professional careers.

Objective 

This study aimed to examine how pharmacy law is integrated into experiential learning and to evaluate its effect on students’ and faculty members’ understanding of legal issues, regulatory requirements, ethical duties, and preparedness for professional practice.

Methods 

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out involving undergraduate pharmacy students, interns, and faculty members from institutions that offer experiential training programs.A structured questionnaire was used to gather data on participants’ knowledge of pharmacy laws, their involvement in legal and regulatory tasks during practical training, their confidence in dealing with legal issues in pharmacy practice, and their views on incorporating pharmacy law into experiential learning.The responses were compiled and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages.

Results 

The results showed that participating in experiential learning significantly improved participants’ understanding of legal and ethical responsibilities compared to learning through lectures alone.

Many respondents shared that during their training in hospitals and community pharmacies, they were involved in tasks such as verifying prescriptions, maintaining pharmacy records, documenting controlled drugs, providing patient counseling, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

These experiences also helped increase participants’ confidence in making legal decisions, upholding professional ethics, ensuring patient safety, and following regulatory guidelines.

Conclusion 

The study found that integrating pharmacy law into experiential learning is a valuable educational method for developing legal competence, enhancing professional decision-making, and promoting ethical and regulatory behavior among future pharmacists.