By Sara Visram, Professional Development Pharmacist at RPS

A learner-centred approach in education not only improves the development of healthcare professionals but also directly benefits patients by creating more effective, personalised and compassionate care.

What is a learner-centred approach in learning?

A learner-centred approach in healthcare and education focuses on active student engagement, personalised learning, and autonomy, as well as enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills (Harden & Laidlaw, 2017).

Why is a learner-centred approach important for pharmacists learning?

Learner-centred education is crucial for pharmacists because it tailors learning experiences to individuals’ needs, preferences, and professional goals.

This method encourages active engagement, application of knowledge, and reflection, leading to better learning outcomes than traditional approaches which prioritise passive absorption of information (Plewka et al., 2023; Ramsden, 2003).

As pharmacists take on more complex roles in delivering clinical, person-centred care, they need more advanced clinical skills. It is imperative that the education and training for pharmacists encourages active engagement, critical-thinking and reflection

A learner-centred approach enables participants to develop those vital critical thinking skills, solve problems and link theory with practice. This ensures their learning is directly applicable to patient care, enables them to adapt to evolving healthcare challenges and supports evidence-based practices within multidisciplinary teams.

How the RPS aims to provide a learner-centred approach to your learning

Our education and professional development team at the RPS develop learning experiences tailored to your needs, preferences and professional goals, supporting both your professional development and patient care. Some of our initiatives include:

• Flexible learning pathways: Choose from e-learning modules, webinars, and workshops to suit your schedules and learning styles.
• Practical focus: Engage with case studies, discussions, and real-life scenarios directly relevant to clinical and community pharmacy practice.
• Learning from experts: Gain insights from subject-matter experts and peers, building an environment for knowledge sharing and skill-building.

This learner-centred approach ensures that pharmacists develop the critical thinking and practical skills needed to provide high-quality patient care.

How learner-centred learning improves patient care

A learner-centred approach equips pharmacists to deliver more effective and personalised care, benefiting both the learners and their patients. Key impacts include: 

• Improved clinical decision-making: Tailored learning enables pharmacists to apply the latest evidence-based practices for better treatment outcomes.
• Enhanced communication skills: Interactive and reflective learning methods help pharmacists build rapport with patients, improving medication adherence and patient satisfaction.
• Proactive problem-solving: Real-world scenarios, prepare pharmacists to address complex issues, such as drug interactions or patient-specific challenges.
• Ongoing adaptability: A focus on continuous learning enables pharmacists to meet the changing healthcare needs of their communities.

By placing the learner at the centre, this approach helps pharmacists become more confident, skilled and compassionate professionals, ultimately improving the quality of care they provide to their patients.

Find out more about RPS Education. 

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