Nutrition and Nurturing: A Service-Learning Nutrition Pharmacy Course

Abstract

Objectives. Pharmacy students must acquire skills and attributes including compassion, communication, empathy, health promotion, and respect for diversity. A service-learning course was developed to achieve these outcomes by targeting the nutrition education needs of low-income children who are at high risk for obesity and related health problems. Design. Each first-year pharmacy student is partnered with a small group of elementary students to deliver an active, hands-on curriculum of healthy nutrition and physical activity. Assessment. Each pharmacy student completes 3 reflection assignments, a survey designed to measure perceived changes in themselves as a result of the course, and a final nutrition examination. Summary. The elementary school children gained health-related knowledge and interacted with positive role models. The pharmacy students conveyed health-related information, promoted healthy lifestyles in situations rich with socioeconomic and cultural diversity, and began to develop skills and ...