Teaching the core skills of safe and accurate dispensing within a framework of quality use of medicines is an important aspect of pharmacy education. Most pharmacy school curricula, place large emphasis on education in basic pharmaceutical sciences e.g. pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, and professional pharmacy practice including extemporaneous dispensing, law and ethics and communication. With much of the experiential learning occurring intermittently during placements then post-graduate internship programs at the end of training. This may be due to deficits in clinical sites, time limitation and already full curricula [1]. Pharmacy programs also aim to provide an opportunity for theoretical knowledge to be applied to real clinical settings. In light of this, virtual and simulated learning environments could enable a systematic approach to training in clinical skills, basic sciences and pharmacy practice by providing students with consistent, predictable experiences [2-3].

The use of virtual technology in education incorporates software computer programs and applications into the teaching curricula to improve student learning. MyDispense is a virtual, web-based pharmacy simulation program, developed by Monash University Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, to assist undergraduate pharmacy students in learning best-practice dispensing skills. Fatima College of Health Sciences (FCHS) was established in 2006, with the aim to meet the United Arab Emirates' growing need for National skilled healthcare professionals. The College offers High Diploma and Bachelor degrees in different Health Sciences Specialties including Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Medical Imaging, Nursing and Paramedics. The Bachelor of Pharmacy Program at FCHS follows Australia’s Monash University Pharmacy Curriculum.

Research into the use of simulation for healthcare education is implemented in medicine [2-4] and undergraduate nursing [5-7] and to a lesser extent among pharmacy students [8,9]. In relation to pharmacy education, anecdotal evidence suggests simple simulation techniques such as role plays and case studies are currently being used and have been for many years. There is some research available for the use of more complex and immersive experiential simulation techniques that have been used in pharmacy schools, to teach a range of technical and non-technical skills, including critical care [10], interdisciplinary teamwork [11], and pharmacotherapy skills [12].

At this stage, we do not fully understand the extent of the use of simulation techniques within pharmacy school curricula, further research into this area is required. To the best of our knowledge this the first study to report on the use of a virtual dispensing program in pharmacy practice education.

Thirty three second year female pharmacy students consented and took part in this study. The students were from both FCHS campuses in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The students were asked to complete a survey about their experience and perceptions after using MyDispense in their pharmacy practice tutorials. A total of 14 (3-hour) tutorials were completed in the two semesters of that year. The survey was anonymous; student names or ID information were not collected. The study received institutional review board approval prior to initiation.

The tutorials covered beginner features of the program for example reading prescriptions, generating dispensing labels, and intermediate level features such as selecting and scanning medicines, accessing the safe for controlled drugs, record keeping in a controlled drug register, medicines assembly and hand-over to patient. Additional features that are more advanced and require considerable skills and experience for example fact-finding from a patient or doctor and patient counselling have not yet been covered, and hence were not included in this study.

The survey instrument consisted of 20 unpaired questions on student’s experience and perceptions of MyDispense and required responses on a Likert Scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). Focus group discussion was conducted to allow the students to elaborate on their responses to the open ended questions. Student responses to the open ended questions were transcribed and coded for common themes manually.

Average age of students was 21.3 years old. All students reported being comfortable with using new technologies, 63.6% played computer games. All of the students (100%) “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that MyDispense virtual dispensing program was a useful pharmacy practice learning tool. The students reported that the program improved their understanding of the dispensing process (97%), the legal and professional requirements for dispensing prescription medicines (94%), as well as other pharmacy practice material taught in lectures (97%). Only 18% “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that MyDispense did not facilitate their learning. Although the students highly enjoyed using MyDispense, a majority (91%) expressed interest in getting hands-on experience using commercial dispensing programs, in addition to using virtual dispensing. The students expressed many positive views, a few negative views and some recommendations to enhance learning using MyDispense virtual dispensing program. These are summarized in the (Table 1) below.

Table 1: Students views.

The findings of our study are similar to findings published in the literature. Cavaco and colleagues reported that 83.5% of students supported the integration of virtual patient technology within their curriculum [13]. Their students strongly believed that the use of virtual technology is a good asset for education. Female students showed greater confidence in the use of technology to improve their communication. Furthermore Divall et al, found that 78% of students agreed that the integration of virtual technology in their curricula increased communication between faculty members and students on a professional basis [14].

The reason as to how virtual patient technology increases student confidence is that such programs give students experience with lifelike situations before their actual practice. Virtual technology allows students to practice different scenarios and situations multiple times without jeopardizing the safety or health of real patients [13].

Significant improvement in knowledge, problem solving, communication and professionalism was reported upon completion of an assessment using virtual patients among third year PharmD students [15]. The assessment tool allowed students to engage with virtual patients on professional and ethical level. The authors concluded that such training equip students before entering clinical grounds to deal with similar situations. Also, Jabbur-Lopes and colleagues assessed the use of virtual technology and students’ proficiency in pharmaceutical care interventions and their ability to solve clinical cases. Their students found the programs to be stimulating, innovative and highly applicable to the practice of pharmacy. It allowed them to train in their early years of study with situations they would face as licensed pharmacists [16].

Another study evaluated 212 students also showed increased knowledge and understanding of theoretical aspects among students after the integration of virtual technology [17]. Marriott and colleagues stated that virtual technology can be used to bridge the gap between theory and practice. They assessed the incorporation of a virtual database into teaching activities and found that such integration provided students with a medium where they were able to build upon theoretical information and practice it through the virtual program. In real practice, students exhibited more knowledge, more confidence and greater competency [18].

The small sample size which only included female participants, as FCHS is a women’s college, is a limitation of this study. It is possible that male students might have different views and experience using virtual dispensing.

Students were satisfied with using virtual dispensing in their pharmacy practice tutorials. They found My Dispense a useful tool that helped them visualize and improve their understanding of the dispensing process. There is a paucity of research in the area of virtual technologies in pharmacy practice education. Further studies are needed to confirm the benefits of using virtual software applications on student learning outcomes.