Experiential education as a strategy to preserve Maqasid Al-Shariah by identifying and addressing stigmatic views held by pharmacy students of patients with substance use disorders
Introduction: Stigmatising people with a history of substance use disorders (PHSUDs) is discriminatory, causes harm by hindering access to health services and promotes relapse. It jeopardises the preservation of Maqasid Al-Shariah, particularly the protection of life and well-being. Experiential...
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Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
IIUM Press
2021
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/87695/1/EE%20Maqasid%20stigma%20paper.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/87695/ https://journals.iium.edu.my/ktn/index.php/jp/article/view/9 |
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Summary: | Introduction: Stigmatising people with a history of substance use disorders (PHSUDs) is
discriminatory, causes harm by hindering access to health services and promotes relapse. It
jeopardises the preservation of Maqasid Al-Shariah, particularly the protection of life and well-being.
Experiential education (EE) is a potential strategy to overcome stigma through direct experience
with PHSUDs. This study aimed to identify stigmatised views of PHSUD's held by pharmacy
students and, in accord with Maqasid Al-Shariah, the effectiveness of EE in changing those views.
Materials and methods: Interviews were conducted with seven undergraduate pharmacy students
who provided care to PHSUDs through an EE programme. A semi-structured interview guide was
used to explore students' perceptions on stigma. Each interview was audio-taped, transcribed
verbatim and translated into English. Data were manually sorted and coded using Microsoft Excel
2016 and subjected to thematic analysis.
Results: The following themes related to stigma were identified: 1) individuals are to blame 2) moral
versus biological views of addiction 3) stereotypes of unpredictability and dangerousness 4) lack of
didactic education/training for pharmacy students regarding PHSUDs and 5) lack of face-to-face
experiential education with PHSUDs. Less stigma and greater empathy towards PHSUDs were
reported post-intervention attributable to increased knowledge about substance abuse and face-toface interactions with PHSUDs.
Conclusion: Pharmacy students have pre-conceived stigmatic views regarding PHSUDs
modifiable through experiential education. Contact by pharmacy students with stigmatised patients
promotes health care without discrimination as advocated in the teaching of Islam. Future
interventions to reduce stigma are required to preserve Maqasid Al-Shariah. |
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