Improving Pharmaceutical Compounding Skills Using Gagne’s Instructional Design Model

Compounding is a fundamental skill that pharmacists perform professionally. However, inappropriate learning and superficial training can lead to medication errors. Thus, this study proposed a lesson plan based on Gagne’s instructional design to teach basic compounding skills, such as weighing, measuring, and trituration. The study utilized Gagne’s model to compose extemporaneous preparations for dermal use. A standardized questionnaire was devised to analyze learners’ opinions and feedback regarding the lesson. Fifty students (third-year Doctor of Pharmacy) with 1.3 ± 0.2 years of compounding experience participated in the lesson. The analysis revealed that 83.5% of the respondents correctly identified the role of ingredients and 85.6% identified the correct tools and instruments. The overall view was 4.9 ± 0.2 on lesson concept and realization; 4.8 ± 0.1 for motivation, participation, and climate; and 2.7 ± 0.3 for workload and difficulty. Gagne’s instructional design model effectively guided the development of an active and comprehensive lesson plan to teach compounding skills to pharmacy students.

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