The impact of critical thinking skills on student pharmacist GPA at a historically Black university.

INTRODUCTION: Limited information is available regarding whether malleable factors such as critical thinking skills are associated with academic performance among underrepresented minority pharmacy students. This study assessed the relationship between critical thinking skills and grade point average (GPA) among pharmacy students attending a Historically Black College. METHODS: A cross sectional study design was utilized to evaluate the association between student's GPA and critical thinking skills. Demographic data and GPA were abstracted from student records. The health sciences reasoning test with numeracy was administered to pharmacy students at Howard University during the 2017 to 2018 academic year. Critical thinking scores were classified as weak, moderate, or strong/superior. A one way analysis of variance was conducted to ascertain if the average GPA differed based on critical thinking skills category. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine whether student's critical thinking skill category was associated with the cumulative GPA after accounting for other factors. RESULTS: Among 217 students, the mean GPA among students with a weak critical thinking skills score (3.22 ± 0.40) was lower compared to students with a strong/superior score (3.39 ± 0.33) with a p-value of 0.029. After adjusting for other factors, a strong/superior critical thinking skills score was associated with a higher GPA (p-value = 0.024) in comparison to weak critical thinking skills. CONCLUSION: Stronger critical thinking skills scores are associated with better academic performance among underrepresented minority pharmacy students.

An Ethics-based Approach to Research in Global Health: A Call to Action for Pharmacists.

As opportunities and interests in international partnerships and research continue to grow in pharmacy, so, too, does the likelihood of encountering ethical challenges. We posit that the chance of encountering an ethical challenge in global health is almost inevitable. This commentary serves as an introduction to a series of four papers highlighting ethical issues in global health research for pharmacists. The authors draw on core ethical principles to guide collaborative global research in working to advance the health of people and populations worldwide.

An analysis of hospital pharmacy practice in six countries of sub-Saharan Africa based on the International Pharmaceutical Federation Basel Statements on the future of hospital pharmacy.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to update the self-assessment tool and to evaluate current hospital pharmacy practices in six sub-Saharan African countries. METHODS: Questions in the validated survey were edited if the revised Basel Statement changed intent. A total of 13 updates were made. The survey was administered via e-mail to pharmacy personnel in any hospital centre in Ghana (258 total hospitals), Nigeria (17 038 total hospitals), Malawi (499 total hospitals), Uganda (155 total hospitals), Zambia (98 total hospitals) and Zimbabwe (1389 total hospitals). Snowball sampling increased reach of the survey across each country. KEY FINDINGS: Responses were received from all six countries, with nine respondents from Ghana, 15 from Nigeria, two from Malawi, five from Uganda, nine from Zambia and four from Zimbabawe. Uganda had the highest achievement rates for tier one and tier three constructs, and Ghana had the highest achievement rate for tier two constructs. Malawi showed the lowest achievement rates in all three tiers. The six countries achieved an average of 82 per cent (SD = 24) of tier one constructs. Three tier one constructs were achieved less than 25 per cent of the time. CONCLUSION: Multiple tier one (minimum standards in hospital pharmacy practice) constructs were achieved greater than 90% of the time, possibly reflecting efforts made towards hospital pharmacy practice advancement in select countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, all countries achieved a majority of tier one overarching constructs. Despite these achievements, there are still many areas for growth, including select tier one constructs with low achievement rates.

Cultural Sensitivity and Global Pharmacy Engagement in Asia: India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam.

Schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States increasingly interact with those in Asian countries for various purposes such as education and research. For both those visiting and those hosting, it is important to understand and respect the culture of the other's country to enrich these interactions. This paper, the second of two manuscripts on Asian countries, focuses on India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam. For each country, the following information is provided: general introduction, health care system, pharmacy practice, and pharmacy education, stereotypes and misconceptions, recommendations for US-based health care professionals, faculty members, and students who visit these Asian countries, and recommendations for them to host visitors from these Asian countries. The aim of this paper is to assist US health care professionals, faculty members, and students in initiating and promoting a culturally sensitive engagement.

Cultural Sensitivity and Global Pharmacy Engagement in Asia: China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Interest in global engagement among schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States and Asian countries is growing. To develop fruitful relationships and engage in mutually enriching experiences, the cultural aspects of these countries need to be understood and respected. The aim of this paper is to facilitate culturally sensitive interactions between practitioners, faculty members, and students in the United States and those in Asian countries when they engage in health care practice and/or education. This paper introduces general information about China (including Macau and Hong Kong), Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Unique characteristics of the health care system and pharmacy education are described for each country. Stereotypes and misconceptions are discussed. Recommendations are included for initiating interactions and developing learning programs and scholarly collaborations while promoting culturally sensitive engagement. These recommendations are provided for US scholars, health care professionals, and students traveling to these countries as well as for those hosting visitors from these countries in the United States.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice of final-year student pharmacists in public health in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe: an exploratory survey.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the knowledge, attitudes and practice of final-year student pharmacists about public health. METHODS: Knowledge, attitudes and practice of all final-year student pharmacists (N = 158) in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe were assessed through a quantitative 12-item survey. The survey assessed personal interest and attitude towards public health activities, self-assessed ability to perform basic public health activities, perspectives towards current pharmacist practices within public health activities in their country, and student involvement in public health activities during pharmacy school. KEY FINDINGS: Eighty-two per cent of students responded to the survey (n = 129). The majority (95%) of all final-year student pharmacists are interested in contributing to public health activities in both health promotion and disease prevention and feel, as pharmacists, they have the responsibility to do so. Additionally, the majority of students would like more education during pharmacy school on health promotion (93%) and disease prevention (89%). Despite their interest, low numbers of student pharmacists feel that pharmacists are currently utilised in disease prevention (35%) and health promotion (42%). CONCLUSION: Final-year student pharmacists in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe express strong interest in public health education and involvement in public health activities. This interest and enthusiasm can serve as evidence for advancing public health education in the pharmacy curricula and for developing pharmacist opportunities in public health efforts that match the needs of the country.

Addressing the global need for public health clinical pharmacists through student pharmacist education: a focus on developing nations.

It is time for pharmacists to begin advancing their roles in public health and play a more integral part in public health initiatives. Within developed nations, the profession has demonstrated its value in advancing preventive care; however, the same cannot be said for pharmacists worldwide. Emphasis on training public health pharmacists should also be on developing nations, where the need for preventive care is highly unmet. To ensure all graduating pharmacists are prepared to engage in public health activities, education in this field must be provided during their main years of pharmacy school. In conclusion, public health education should be incorporated into pharmacy curriculae within developing nations so all pharmacy graduates are prepared to engage in public health activities.

Pharmacy staff opinions regarding diabetic retinopathy screenings in the community setting: findings from a brief survey.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy is a retinal vascular disorder that affects more than 4.1 million people in the United States. New methods of detecting and ensuring adequate follow-up of this life-altering disease are vital to improving patient outcomes. Wills Eye Hospital and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are conducting a collaborative study to initiate a novel diabetic retinopathy screening in the community setting. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of a more widespread, large-scale implementation of this novel model of care for diabetic retinopathy screening in the community setting. METHODS: A simple, self-administered survey was distributed to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacists, and Wills Eye Hospital interns. The survey consisted of open-ended questions and responders were given 1 week to respond. A total of 22 surveys were distributed and 16 were completed. The responses were culled and analyzed to assess the feasibility of implementing this novel screening model in the pharmacy. RESULTS: The response rate to this pilot survey was 72%. The majority of the responding pharmacy staff members indicated that diabetic retinopathy screening in community pharmacies would greatly benefit patients and could improve patient care. However, they also noted barriers to implementing the screening, such as concerns about the cost of carrying out the screenings, the cost of the equipment needed to be purchased, and the lack of time and shortage of pharmacy staff. CONCLUSION: The potential exists for pharmacists to positively influence diabetes care by implementing retinopathy care through the early detection of the disease and reinforcement of the need for follow-up; however, real-world barriers must be addressed before widespread adoption of such a novel model of care becomes feasible.