Importance of Transferable Skills in Pharmacology

As self-directed l e arning  becomes more i mporta nt  in  the field of pharmacology, so, too, are  ”transferable skills." In this study, the attitudes of second medical skills.” In this study,the attitudes of second year medical undergraduates towards transferable skills in pharmacology were assessed. Differences due to gender, natiionality and medium of instruction were investigated. A survey was conducted with the help of a self-administered questionnaire asking the students to rate, first the importance of the particular transferable skiill, second, theiir own ability in these skills and, third, the effect of integrated teaching. Students were of the opinion that transferable skills were very important in pharmacology. Female students gave a higher rating to the importance of drugs and communication skills than males. The Indian students rated their problem solving skills higher than the other defined demographic groups. Finally, students had a level of confidence in their own skills. These results suggest that students aare well equipped to succed in the revised curriculum of Kathmandu University, Nepal, which will place a greater emphasis on self-directed learning in the future.