Use of a multimedia tool for undergraduate industrial pharmaceutical training

The article studies whether training prior to laboratory work (with a multimedia interactive programme), as a complement to the traditional practicaltheoretical teaching of tablet manufacturing, has brought advantages to pharmaceutical technology learning and, in consequence, increased the quality of the tablets produced by the students in the educational pilot plant. Evaluation is a key aspect in the learning process outlined in this paper. Computer-based learning shows that prior training is useful as a primary or supplementary instruction tool for teaching pharmaceutical technology skills in the pharmaceutical pilot plant. This previous training affected certain factors positively, such as: general knowledge of tableting and GMP rules, fewer incidents reported in the pilot plant, less equipment breakdown and better compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices. However, it did not affect some parameters of the quality of the tablets manufactured (hardness, % output and mean weight), and it enhanced substantially their dissolution quality.