Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research | Vol 47 | Issue 3 | Jul–Sep, 2013 1 Pharmaceutcal Educaton www.ijper.org Mannequin-Simulator as a New Teaching and Learning Method in Performance-Based Pharmacotherapy Mohd Makmor-Bakry*, Norazrina Azmi and Adliah Mhd. Ali Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ABSTRACT Introduction: Active learning approach is deemed to be important for performance-based education. Aims: Objectives of this study were to report experience in employing a mannequin-based case assessment of pharmacotherapy for pharmacy students and to seek students’ opinion on the usefulness of this approach. Methods: Students were exposed to a standardised heart failure case using mannequin-simulator and were asked to evaluate the medication prescribed and to manage any drug related problems. Performance grade of the students was evaluated based on participation and a written report. A cross-sectional survey was utilised to identify the students’ perception on the simulation experience. The survey consisted of six statements related to the simulation and three statements related to the clinical pharmacy and pharmacotherapy. Results: A total of 81 students completed the survey. The median grade for the cohort was seven out of ten marks. Before exposure to the session, 86.4% of the students agreed that clinical pharmacy is interesting, only 29.6% of the students agreed that pharmacotherapy is easy to learn and 60.5% of the cohort agreed they are confdent to provide clinical pharmacy services. After exposure to the session, 82.7% of the students agreed that the session has enhanced their interest in pharmacotherapy, 91% of the cohort agreed that this simulation provided an opportunity to utilise their theoretical knowledge, 79% of the students stated the experience has developed their skills to solve pharmacotherapy related problems. Up to 76.5% of the cohort enjoyed the simulation session. Conclusion: The students value mannequin-based pharmacotherapy teaching and learning as effective and interesting. Keywords: Simulation-based, active learning, pharmacotherapy, performance-based. INTRODUCTION The scope of pharmacy profession is expanding from pharmaceutical product orientation to clinically oriented phar- macy practice which includes direct patient care. Clinically oriented pharmacy prac- tice include advanced drug-control pro- cess, development of physical and human resources, clinical pharmacy skills, and the training of pharmacy practitioners. 1 Pharmacy curriculum should provide expe- riential practice learning whereby the knowl- edge and skills learned in the classroom can be applied in a real clinical setting. 2 In Malaysia, the Pharmacy Board and the Qualifcation Agency encourage a shift in pharmacy education from traditional DOI: 10.5530/ijper.47.3.1 Address for correspondence Mohd Makmor-Bakry Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Phone: +60392897244 Fax: +60326983271 E-Mail: mohdcp@medic.ukm.my lectures to experiential and competency- based learning. 3 Both bodies are respon- sible to regulate the standard of academic programme and competencies required by the pharmacists. The Pharmacy Board of Malaysia guideline stated that “There must be a variety of teaching-learning meth- ods that are enjoyable, which will enable students to develop the range of intellec- tual and practical skills as well as positive attitudes”. 3 One of the ways to achieve this objective could be a simulation-based training as part of the teaching approach. Previous study has suggested that the mannequin-simulator-based learning offers a realistic clinical training experience for the application of knowledge and interpersonal