Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40093325›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in pharmacology2025

Undergraduate pharmacy students' preference for case-based learning: a discrete choice experiment in China.

Zhibo Guo, Yuxing He, Jianzhou Yan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Zhibo GuoSchool of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
Yuxing HeSchool of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
Jianzhou YanSchool of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Understanding students' preferences is crucial for developing targeted teaching strategies and improving educational outcomes. This study aimed to investigate Chinese undergraduate pharmacy students' preferences for case-based learning (CBL). Methods: We conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to quantify preferences for CBL. Six key attributes associated with CBL preferences were identified: case modality, provider type, group size, case authenticity, case complexity, and examination format. An online questionnaire was administered to undergraduate pharmacy students from two universities in China. The data were analyzed using a mixed logit model to estimate preference weights, assess the relative importance of the attributes, and predict uptake rates. Additionally, interaction effects and subgroup analysis were employed to identify heterogeneity in preferences among different student groups. Results: A total of 613 participants completed the questionnaire and 482 participants were included in the analysis. The most influential attribute was case modality, with scenario simulation strongly preferred over paper modality. Case authenticity and provider type were also significant factors, followed by group size and case complexity. Examination format did not significantly affect preferences. We found heterogeneity in preferences between different groups of students. The highest uptake was achieved when cases were presented in scenario simulations by clinical instructors in small groups, using real cases of low complexity alongside the traditional written examination. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of case modality with scenario simulation, case authenticity, and provider by clinical instructors among Chinese undergraduate pharmacy students for CBL, and suggests the need for personalized CBL approaches to accommodate different preferences.

Indexed as

case-based learningdiscrete choice experimentlearning preferencepharmacy educationundergraduate pharmacy student

Identifiers

PMID40093325
PMCPMC11906709

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