A novel behaviour change learning activity for pharmacy undergraduate students

Abstract

Objectives: To engage students in a ‘behaviour change’ learning activity, applying health psychology theory to pharmacy practice in order to help students appreciate the challenges of behaviour change.

Methods: Year 2 pharmacy students selected one behaviour to change and kept a diary for one-week before making changes. Students then received a health psychology lecture on behaviour change models. They instigated their behaviour change and continued to document this in the diary over a further one-week. Diaries were collected after the two-week activity for thematic analysis.

Results: Of the 99 students, 61 (62%) submitted their completed diary, of whom 55 (90%) successfully implemented their behaviour change. These were categorised into four areas: diet, exercise, liquid consumption, and other. The remaining 10% provided reasons for not changing. Ten students (16%) described their behaviour using a psychological theory.

Conclusions: Students engaged well with this novel learning activity, indicated by a high percentage diary completion. They demonstrated a clear appreciation of behaviour change within a real life context and its perceived relevance to pharmacy practice.