Factors Affecting Learning of Pharmaceutical Care in Clinical Education: Arak Nursing Students’ Perspectives

Introduction: Having appropriate knowledge of Pharmacology is very important in giving good nursing care. However, little attention is paid to its teaching and learning. This study aimed to determine factors affecting pharmaceutical care learning in clinical education. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at Arak University of Medical Sciences during 2010-11. The sample selection was done using census sampling. Sixty one nursing students in 6th, 7th, and 8th semesters were studied using a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: 62.3% of participants were male and the others were female. Mean and SD of their age was 22.02±1.29. Their marks on Theoretical Pharmacology were 14.45±2.34. It was determined that variables related to clinical instructor, student and clinical environment are factors affecting pharmaceutical care learning from the view of nursing students. As for clinical instructor, competence of an instructor with an average of 2.29 was identified as the most important factor affecting pharmaceutical care learning. Conclusion: Paying attention to and strengthening the instructors’ qualifications, recruiting efficient teachers, creating an appropriate clinical environment, considering motivational factors affecting students’ success in acquiring knowledge and experience and their appreciation of the importance and necessity of proper medication, and providing strategies to increase students' clinical learning can facilitate and strengthen learning process of pharmaceutical care.