Pharmacy student perceptions of remote learning and wellness during the pandemic: Lessons learned from a metropolitan commuter city.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess pharmacy student perceptions of remote learning experiences and personal well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in a metropolitan commuter city. METHODS: A survey was developed and sent to pharmacy students from the three pharmacy colleges in New York City in January 2021. The survey domains consisted of demographics, personal well-being, classroom experiences, and pandemic and post-pandemic preferred learning modalities and reasons. RESULTS: From a total of 1354 students from professional years one, two, and three across the three colleges, completed responses were received from 268 students (20% response rate). More than half of the respondents (55.6%) reported a negative impact of the pandemic on their well-being. More than half of the respondents (58.6%) reported more time to study. When students were asked their preferred mode of pharmacy education delivery during the pandemic and post-pandemic, a quarter (24.5%) preferred remote learning for all courses during the pandemic, and only a quarter (26.8%) preferred traditional classrooms for all courses post-pandemic. Approximately 60% of the respondents preferred some type of remote learning post-pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacy student learning has been and continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for pharmacy students in New York City. This study sheds light on the remote learning experiences and preferences of pharmacy students in a commuter city. Future studies could assess pharmacy student learning experiences and preferences after return to campus.

Global health research partnerships in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This themed issue on global health research has come at an opportune time in the middle of the ongoing global public health crisis arising from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic which has claimed nearly 756,000 lives in 210 countries and territories around the world as of August 15, 2020. The public health crisis underscores the importance of global health research partnerships and collaborations to develop and evaluate the requisite health technologies to assist in containing COVID-19, other diseases, and health-related concerns that defy national borders. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the member countries of the United Nations in September 2015, provide a framework for global development efforts including global health research. SDG3, which promotes health and well-being for the world populations across the age spectrum, highlights disease areas for special focus which can be adapted in specific global health research programs to serve local health needs. SDG17 promotes partnerships between high income (HIC) and low and middle-income countries (LMIC) for sustainable and equitable global development. However, given the wide disparities in fiscal and overall capacity for research between researchers in HIC and their counterparts in LMIC as well as the greater vulnerabilities of the LMIC communities when serving as research locations, a spotlight on the nature of such global health research partnerships in the context of the SDGs is desirable. This is to ensure that they are meaningful and mutually-beneficial partnerships which address local health concerns and promote long-term value for the communities involved. The objective of this commentary is, therefore, to provide a brief overview of the SDGs by way of context; explore the power differences at play when researchers from HIC are seeking research opportunities in LMIC; examine the social determinants of health and the disproportionate burden of global diseases carried by populations in LMIC to establish their vulnerability; discuss global research partnerships; and attempt to make a case for why community-based participatory research may be the preferred type of global health research partnership in the context of the SDGs.

A pilot assessment on perceived stress among working pharmacist moms.

OBJECTIVE: To assess perceptions of stress among working pharmacist moms. METHODS: Members of the then 1000-member Facebook Pharmacist Moms group were invited to complete an 18-question online survey. The survey included questions related to stress and demographics. RESULTS: Ninety-three pharmacist moms responded to the survey. The majority (82%) of respondents graduated more than 5 years ago. Most (81%) had at least 2 children; 44% had at least 1 child younger than 5 years. The largest proportion (58%) of respondents practiced in a community pharmacy, whereas nonretail respondents included those working in a hospital (25%) or in academia (12%). Retail pharmacist moms felt more nervous or stressed about work than nonretail pharmacist mothers (70% vs. 49%; P < 0.01) and were more likely to feel difficulties were piling up so high they could not overcome them (48% vs. 15%; P < 0.01). Moms who worked in retail also felt more upset because of something that happened at work compared with nonretail pharmacist moms (63% vs 28%; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Women have become a major force in pharmacy and will continue to play a considerable role in the future of the profession. Pharmacist moms working in retail report higher stress levels compared with their nonretail counterparts. These results indicate a need to educate future female pharmacists on coping skills and life management techniques that foster healthy work-life balances. Employers should be aware of the underlying stressors that pharmacist moms are coping with in the workplace. These findings suggest the need for a more comprehensive survey to determine whether the stress perceived by pharmacist moms is warranted.