Teaching oxygen pharmacology before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the Faculty of Medicine at a public University in Peru

Abstract

Introduction

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of medicinal oxygen as a primary therapeutic resource to reduce morbidity and mortality. Despite its clinical relevance, it remains unclear whether undergraduate education at the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM) adequately addresses the pharmacological aspects of oxygen. This study aims to analyze the inclusion of oxygen pharmacology in curricula and syllabus before and after the COVID-19 pandemic across various health professional schools at UNMSM.

Material and methods

This descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted in the Pharmacology Section of the Department of Dynamic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine. Pharmacology syllabus from the professional schools of Medicine, Nursing, Obstetrics, Nutrition, Medical Technology, and Clinical Toxicology were evaluated for the academic years 2016–2020 (pre-pandemic) and 2020–2025 (post-pandemic). The inclusion of topics directly or indirectly related to oxygen pharmacology was assessed through the search for key terms concerning pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and interactions. A descriptive approach, including percentage analysis, was employed for data analysis.

Results

The document analysis revealed that none of the reviewed syllabi included specific content related to oxygen pharmacology. This represents a significant educational gap, particularly in the post-pandemic context where medicinal oxygen has proven to be a critical component in patient care.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate a clear deficiency in the training of future health professionals regarding their knowledge and competencies in oxygen pharmacology.