Pharmacy Students Perception of the Application of Learning Management System in Patient-oriented Pharmacy Education: University of Benin Experience

Abstract

is an online international journal allowing free unlimited access to abstract and full-text of published articles. The journal is devoted to the promotion of health sciences and related disciplines (including medicine, pharmacy, nursing, biotechnology, cell and molecular biology, and related engineering fields). It seeks particularly (but not exclusively) to encourage multidisciplinary research and collaboration among scientists, the industry and the healthcare professionals. It will also provide an international forum for the communication and evaluation of data, methods and findings in health sciences and related disciplines. The journal welcomes original research papers, reviews and case reports on current topics of special interest and relevance. All manuscripts will be subject to rapid peer review. Those of high quality (not previously published and not under consideration for publication) will be published without delay. The maximum length of manuscripts should normally be 10,000 words (20 single-spaced typewritten pages) for review, 6,000 words for research articles, 3,000 for technical notes, case reports, commentaries and short communications. Abstract Objective: To evaluate pharmacy students' perception of the application of learning management system (LMS) in their education in a Doctor of Pharmacy program in Benin City. Method: In a special ICT class, 165 pharmacy students were introduced to LMS using an open source program, Docebo © after which a questionnaire with core questions in five domains, namely, sociodemographic data, access to computer and internet, problems in applying ICT facilities, perception of e-learning and LMS was administered. Students' responses to the questionnaire were analysed. Results: Although most students (84%) had access to internet, only 16.1% owned computers and majority (82.1%) use cybercafés for internet access. Frequent electric power failure, inadequate computer facilities, skilled personnel, and slow internet speed were identified by 64.8–82.5% of the students as problems in using computer facilities in the University. While willingness to pay was not considered a problem, 80.4% of the students were only willing to pay not more than US$ 7.96 per semester for internet access. Over 92% of them felt that LMS will make teaching and learning more exciting and effective when combined with the traditional teaching approach. Conclusion: The use of LMS will improve the teaching and learning of pharmacy students.