Promoting the pharmacist's role in public health

The academic formation challenges: what does retail expect from higher education institutions in pharmacy?

BACKGROUND

The drug retail represents the main area of activity for pharmacists worldwide. In Brazil, this sector is responsible for employing around 80% of professionals. Before this reality, the academic training of pharmacists requires specialized skills and knowledge so they can fulfill their tasks. In this sector, considering the influence of managers and mentors on the model of pharmaceutical practice, their perceptions about the demands of the market can help discussions related to the training of pharmacists.

AIM

To analyze the academic training of pharmacists for the drug retail market from the perspective of managers and mentors.

METHOD

This is a qualitative study conducted with managers and mentors of the drug retail market. A semi-structured interview guide was prepared and applied to the intentionally selected participants. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under the number 4,169,752. The interviews were conducted through videoconference by an experienced researcher. The data obtained were analyzed using Bardin's analysis technique, following the steps of categorical thematic content analysis using the ATLAS.ti software.

RESULTS

19 interviews were carried out. Among the reports, the interviewees highlighted the importance of retail in the employability of pharmacists, as well as inconsistency in the academic training for this sector, originating the following categories: curriculum reform to include the market demands, follow-up and career plan, training for entrepreneurship and sales, practical application of knowledge, and encouragement of experience.

CONCLUSION

Pharmaceutical academic training is linked to several challenges, whether organizational, structural, or budgetary. To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to unite the interested parties in the formulation and implementation of a strategy for the professionalization of pharmacists, considering their social role in patient care, aligned with the company's sustainability, so that both coexist.

Creating global health leaders in pharmacy by evolving postgraduate training

There has been a push for increasing global health education and training opportunities within the pharmacy profession. Global health postgraduate learning opportunities are necessary to define pharmacy career paths in global health and develop global health leaders. There are many challenges to starting a global health postgraduate training program including economic burden, logistics of extramural rotations, local and international resources, and program sustainability. In the face of barriers inhibiting formal program establishment, different strategies can be used to incorporate global health topics into existing postgraduate training opportunities. Possible solutions include relating local health to global health to develop a global mindset, expanding upon existing partnerships to provide international global health experiences, use of technology and simulation for virtual global health interaction, and emphasis of implementation science principles to connect and translate local health interventions to a global scale.

Pharmacy-based pre-exposure prophylaxis support among pharmacists and men who have sex with men

OBJECTIVE

To understand the perceptions and support for pharmacy-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery among pharmacists and men who have sex with men (MSM).

DESIGN

A qualitative study from April 2017 to December 2018.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The researchers used purposive sampling to identify MSM participants and AIDSVu to identify pharmacists in high-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) zip codes in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Eight MSM and 6 pharmacists consented to participate in the study.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Perceptions and support for PrEP delivery in pharmacies.

RESULTS

Both MSM and pharmacists expressed strong support for in-pharmacy PrEP screening and dissemination. MSM reported that pharmacies were more convenient and accessible compared with physician's offices. However, they also noted that privacy and training of pharmacy staff were important for them to consider being screened for PrEP in a pharmacy. Pharmacists also believed training was important and felt comfortable counseling on HIV prevention for their current patients.

CONCLUSION

These data support early evidence that pharmacies are a promising venue to improve PrEP access for MSM. To implement PrEP screening in pharmacies, proper training of pharmacy staff and a designated space to ensure privacy are critical. Future studies should test the feasibility of screening for PrEP in pharmacies for black MSM.

Ebola virus disease: How can African pharmacists respond to future outbreaks?

In its forty years history (1976–2016), the West African region has recorded the most devastating form of the Ebola virus disease. The sparse knowledge of healthcare professionals and general public combined with lesser responses from international community are major factors for the dissemination of the disease. In the context of this outbreak, there is a need to highlight the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists, especially in the African healthcare setting. Moreover, the prerequisite of diagnostic kits for the timely detection of the infection as well as pharmacists' awareness of the current therapeutic regimen are recommended.

Clinical pharmacists: The major support to Indian healthcare system in near future

Pharmacy practice is still in the initial stages of development in India, but launching of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) study program has brought serious discussions about clinical pharmacy in the country. As the profession is in budding stage in the country, the patients, physicians, nurses, other healthcare providers, recruiters in pharmaceutical industries, prospective students, and their parents have numerous questions about this profession and study course. The objective of this article is to create awareness about clinical pharmacy services (CPS) and to introduce the role of clinical pharmacists (CPs). After reading this article, one will know about the usefulness of CPs in the Indian healthcare system against the current flaws in the system. The article describes the role of CPs in the hospitals, in research, in pharmaceutical/contract research companies, in community service and it also tells about the related myths and facts. Prospective job opportunities for CPs, present challenges and the possible solutions are elaborated as well. In conclusion, CPs are going to be the major support to the Indian healthcare system in near future; the reasons being (1) CPS are beneficial in many ways to improve healthcare; CPS have already proved their importance in western countries (2) India was never officially and efficiently exposed to CPS; so launching of CPS shall revolutionize the country's healthcare scenario.

A Required Online Course with a Public Health Focus for Third Professional Year Pharmacy Students

OBJECTIVE

To design, deliver, and evaluate the impact of a required course on student knowledge acquisition and ability to evaluate contemporary public health issues.

DESIGN

A 2-credit course was implemented using asynchronous, online delivery. Learning activities included literature retrieval and assessment, analytic writing, quizzes, and creation of a group wiki evaluating a current public health issue. Course topics included health care reform, social determinants of health, health disparities, evidence-based medicine, end-of-life care, patient safety, and research ethics.

ASSESSMENT

Strong student performance on assessments indicated an ability to use higher-order cognitive domains. Online delivery provided students with the flexibility to complete assignments at their convenience, allowed participation by all students, and encouraged self-directed learning.

CONCLUSION

Completion of a required, online, asynchronous course with a public health focus allowed pharmacy students to increase their knowledge of and ability to evaluate contemporary ethical, social, cultural, and governmental issues affecting pharmacy practice.

Exploring the role of the pharmacist in global health

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this commentary is to explore the potential role of the pharmacist in the field of global health by understanding the definition of global health and how it can be applied to the profession of pharmacy.

SUMMARY

While the role of the pharmacist in public health has been defined, the literature is limited with respect to the role of the pharmacist in global health. It is suggested that the "global" in global health should refer to the scope of a problem and not necessarily the geographic location. Through this lens, pharmacists have the opportunity to play an important role in both public health and global health. In particular, pharmacists can look at the varied global health careers established in medicine and use this as a framework to understand the potential role of the pharmacist within global health practice and program delivery, research, and policy.

CONCLUSIONS

To further define the role of the pharmacist in global health, pharmacists may have to change their perception of what services they can provide and where these services can be applied.

Pharmacists' Roles in Post-September 11th Disasters: A Content Analysis of Pharmacy Literature

PURPOSE

To characterize the roles pharmacists have assumed in disasters and clarify the types of roles and disasters that may be less well-documented in the pharmacy literature.

METHODS

This research examines how balanced or equally proportioned role categories are in the pharmacy literature, whether pharmacy journals differ in the proportion of role categories reported, and whether journals significantly differ in the proportion of reported chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN), and natural disasters. Data coding was performed solely by the lead author using Concordance (Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts), a Web-based content analysis software, and Minitab(®) (version 15; Minitab, Inc; State College, Pennsylvania) for descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Pharmacy journals publishing at least 2 articles about pharmacist disaster roles from September 11, 2001 to September 30, 2011 were used in the study and were available electronically.

RESULTS

Chi-square analyses reveal significant differences in the weighted counts of roles, roles categorized by journal, and CBRN disasters categorized by journal.

CONCLUSIONS

Data suggest that pharmacists may be prepared to respond to hurricanes and biological and chemical disasters in pharmaceutical supply and patient management roles. Future research should highlight efforts to prepare health systems for the effects of nuclear, radiological, and chemical disasters.