Original Article

 

Authors: I. Atanasova, D. Terziivanov

University Hospital „Lozenetz“, Medical Faculty, Sofia University „St. Kliment Ohridski“

 

Address for Correspondence: I. Atanasova, Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, University Hospital “Lozenetz”, 1 Kozyak St, 1407 Sofia, e-mail: ivanka.atanasova@mail.bg

 

Keywords: pharmacology, problem-based learning, design of exercises

 

Abstract

In recent years, research results and comparisons have been published in the specialized scientific literature regarding the pharmacology teaching as a major medical discipline in the universities of Europe. The issues and challenges are related to the use of different simulation programs, which replace the experimental work with animal models, and the problem-based learning which corresponds more closely to the actual clinical conditions for application of the pharmacology knowledge. We present the results of a study based on interviews with 3rd year undergraduate medical students from the Medical Faculty of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” in the academic year 2010/2011, which objective was to assess the methodology of teaching and draw conclusions for training optimization in the context of the continuing medical education. ANOVA two-way analysis was used for the evaluation of the class exercise design. The process of pharmacology training is multifactorial. Revealing the influence of different factors maintaining sustained student motivation for steady pharmacology learning is essential for the accumulation of active knowledge of this medical discipline which is basic for their good therapeutic practices.