Service learning in pharmacy: Implementation of tuberculosisscreening by second-year pharmacy studentsin primary health care facilitiesin Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

The School of Pharmacy of the University of the Western Cape implemented a service learning programme where second year students participated in tuberculosis (TB) screening.To determine the views of students and nurses about student-led TB screening at primary healthcare (PHC) facilities. The study was descriptive and quantitative. The target populations were pharmacy students and nurses, who completed self-administered semi-structured questionnaires. Study participants included 99 students from 19 facilities and 38 nurses who represented 15 facilities. Students had screened 1323 patients and referred 210 for further testing. Students and nurses felt students were adequately trained to conduct TB screening and seemed to screen patients with ease. Students and nurses believed that students gained more TB knowledge and clinical experience. Students also believed the TB screenings were beneficial to the patients and nurses.