Experience with pharmacy academic programmes and career aspirations of pharmacy students and young pharmacists-an international cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess pharmacy students and young pharmacists' motives to pursue pharmacy degrees, their overall experiences and satisfaction with their pharmacy academic programmes, and their career aspirations and future plans. METHODS: Between May-2019 and March-2020, a self-administered online questionnaire was distributed via the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation and the Young Pharmacists Group at the International Pharmaceutical Federation. The questionnaire targeted pharmacy students and young pharmacists worldwide. Data were analysed descriptively and inferentially. RESULTS: In total, 1,423 pharmacy students and young pharmacists participated in the study. Almost 70% (993) of respondents reported that pharmacy was their first choice subject for study. Intentions for studying pharmacy were driven by an interest in healthcare, wanting to help people as well as an interest in science. In general, more than 60% of the participants had a satisfactory education experience. However, dissatisfaction was more prevalent among current pharmacy students in comparison to young pharmacists. Out of 1,423 participants, 1,110 (78%) showed a continuing desire to practice pharmacy. Being female and resident of a middle-income country increased the likelihood of being more satisfied with the academic programme. Having pharmacy as the subject first-choice and being generally satisfied with the academic programmes were positively associated with participants' willingness to practice pharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the majority of this extensive sample had pharmacy as their profession of choice and wanted to continue to practice in the future. In addition most of the targeted population indicated satisfaction with their pharmacy academic programmes.

Japanese Pharmacists' Perceptions of Self-Development Skills and Continuing Professional Development.

BACKGROUND: The role of healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, is changing. Lifelong learning and continuing professional development (CPD) are more critical than ever for both current and future pharmacists in the face of global health challenges and new technologies, services and therapies that are continually and rapidly introduced into their daily practice. Currently, Japanese pharmacists' licences are not renewable, although most developed countries have a renewal system. Therefore, understanding Japanese pharmacists' perceptions of CPD is the first step in reviewing undergraduate and postgraduate education. METHODS: The target population was Japanese pharmacists, i.e., community pharmacy pharmacists and hospital pharmacists. The participants were administered a questionnaire with 18 items related to continuing professional development. RESULTS: Our study found that regarding item "Q16 Do you think you need further education in your undergraduate education to continue your professional development?", (a) the ability to identify one's own problems and issues, (b) the ability to make plans to solve problems and issues, (c) the ability to carry out plans to solve problems and issues and (d) the ability to repeat steps of self-development, approximately 60% of pharmacists answered that these aspects were "necessary" or "quite necessary". CONCLUSION: As part of universities' responsibility for the lifelong education of pharmacists, it is necessary to systematically conduct teaching seminars or undergraduate education or postgraduate education on self-development while training pharmacists to meet the needs of citizens.

Physicians' and Nurses' Perceptions of Pharmacists' Competencies, and Their Needs of Pharmacists during COVID-19.

Objective: To understand how physicians and nurses evaluate Japanese pharmacists' observed competencies and to explore potential new roles for pharmacists during COVID-19. Methods: A web-based Japanese survey with 25 items assessing physicians' and nurses' workplaces and the degree of their relationship with pharmacists in their daily work was conducted (Intage, Inc., Tokyo, Japan) in Japan in June 2021 (for one week beginning on 22 June). The survey asked physicians and nurses whether pharmacists had the required professional competencies and whether the needs of physicians and nurses were met by pharmacists in their workplaces. The scored questionnaire data, which used a Likert scale, were calculated as the mean and standard deviation (S.D.). The perception assessment scale used four levels (1, Agree; 2, Slightly agree; 3, Slightly disagree; and 4, Disagree). Results: This perception study ultimately obtained responses from 304 physicians and 336 nurses. Most pharmacists' competencies were evaluated as "Agree" or "Slightly agree" by the physicians and nurses. However, the competencies for "Fundamental basic science" and "Prescription analytical skill or case analytical skill" were evaluated significantly lower by physicians than by nurses (Mann−Whitney U test, p < 0.01). Regarding physicians' and nurses' needs from pharmacists, nurses hoped that pharmacists could play a greater role as healthcare professionals in response to all items; in contrast, physicians hoped that pharmacists could play a greater role as healthcare professionals in response to five items. The common items were related to the role of healthcare professionals in the community. Conclusion: Our research is necessary for facilitating interprofessional collaboration and reflecting these results in pharmacy education by allowing physicians and nurses to assess the competencies of pharmacists and to understand their needs; however, these data are from only one country.

Changes in Japanese Pharmacists' Recognition of Their Role in Community Public Health before and after the Spread of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: In our previous study regarding infection prevention after COVID-19, many Japanese citizen respondents had not received education/training on infection prevention. However, a total of 47.7% (n = 143) of these respondents wanted to receive education from healthcare professionals regarding the methods and effects of infection prevention. Therefore, changes in recognition of the roles of Japanese pharmacists before and after COVID-19 were investigated. METHODS: We conducted a survey to determine whether recognition of Japanese pharmacists' roles, especially their role in public health in the community, changed after COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 93.9% (n = 307) of the pharmacist respondents showed an increased awareness of infection prevention. Before COVID-19, the hospital pharmacists (67.2%; n = 80) were more aware of infection prevention than were pharmacy pharmacists (51.7%; n = 74) and drugstore pharmacists (47.7%; n = 31). The number of pharmacists who felt that the role of pharmacists in the community had changed after the pandemic increased, but the numbers of community pharmacy pharmacists (51.8%; n = 74) and drugstore pharmacists (55.4%; n = 36) were found to be slightly higher than those of hospital pharmacists (47.9%; n = 57). CONCLUSIONS: In a society in which swift responses and changes are required, for individuals to work as medical personnel their ability to respond while always being aware of the needs of society is required now more than ever.