Public service announcements (PSA) to facilitate dietary supplement education

ObjectiveTo implement and assess a revised public service announcement (PSA) project facilitating dietary supplement education (DS) in a required self-care course.MethodsIn 2012, students completed a PSA project as part of a team-based learning activity. In 2013, both PSA audience and topics were revised to be more specific and applicable to current trends. A new rubric that standardized the grading was used. Each student was responsible for an individual project consisting of a one-page summary on DS marketing examples, monographs, disease-specific counseling, or audience-specific counseling points. Students completed an anonymous Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved survey assessing the format, individual project, and use of pharmacy resources.ResultsOf 123 surveys, 74 were completed. Of the students who responded, 86.5% agreed that the PSA activity enhanced their understanding of DS and 85.2% agreed that group members contributed equally to the project. Three quarters agreed that the PSA project was a worthwhile experience. Only 44.6% of students agreed that the individual assignment helped them create a better PSA. Over 90% of students agreed that they used multiple resources on their individual project, with over two-thirds reporting that they learned to better use pharmacy resources. Approximately half of those surveyed agreed the individual project was a worthwhile experience. Watching PSAs in class helped students learn better about DS and made them feel more engaged in class.ConclusionsMost students agreed that the overall PSA project enhanced their understanding of dietary supplements. Revision of the project timeline will likely improve student involvement and preparedness for the PSA.