Contemporary Pharmacy Research Articles

A Call to Action for Integrating Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences With Purpose

Introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) are essential to exposing students to contemporary pharmacy practice and promoting advanced pharmacy practice experience readiness. An IPPE curriculum should be sequenced and progressive, with IPPE experiences built upon each other and coordinated with the didactic curriculum. Pharmacy programs are faced with several internal and external challenges that can influence the design and implementation of their IPPE curriculum. Periodic IPPE curricular review is imperative as new challenges arise and existing challenges abate. Pharmacy programs should use a systematic and holistic process to evaluate and revise their IPPE programs. It is an opportune time to begin this process, with new standards being released in 2024. This commentary describes common challenges associated with integrating a high-quality IPPE program into a Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum along with potential solutions, with the intention for individual programs to use this as a tool to guide IPPE evaluation and revision.

Preceptors' perceptions of an entrustable professional activities-based community introductory pharmacy practice experience curriculum

IntroductionIn 2021, the Southeastern Pharmacy Experiential Education Consortium implemented Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) into the community introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) curriculum at five colleges/schools of pharmacy. The objective of this study was to evaluate community IPPE preceptors' perceptions regarding the newly implemented EPA-based community IPPE curriculum and corresponding preceptor training. MethodsCommunity IPPE preceptors who precepted first-year student pharmacists in the EPA-based curriculum during the 2021 and 2022 community IPPE cycles were invited to complete a voluntary electronic survey. The survey collected preceptor feedback regarding the required EPA tasks, assessment tool, and preceptor development module. ResultsEighty-eight preceptors began the survey, and approximately half completed the entire survey. Greater than 92% of preceptors surveyed agreed or strongly agreed EPA domain tasks were developed at an appropriate level for a student to complete by the end of the community IPPE, and ≥ 94% agreed or strongly agreed tasks prepared a community IPPE student for the community advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE). Overall, most preceptors agreed or strongly agreed that the assessment tool was easy to navigate and effective at evaluating students' performance. All preceptors who viewed the recorded preceptor development module found it helpful to their understanding of the new assessment tool. ConclusionsPreceptors' feedback supports the use of an EPA-based community IPPE curriculum to assess student performance and prepare students for community APPEs. Preceptor involvement is valuable in the evaluation of a revised experiential curricula to assure IPPE expectations are appropriate and align with contemporary pharmacy practice.

Defining contemporary roles of the pharmacy educator: The essential first step in developing equitable faculty teaching workload

IntroductionFaculty workload policy has gained increased attention recently given the growing amount of faculty burnout leading to decreased productivity, worsened faculty morale, and impaired retention. Faculty are one of the most valuable resources of an academic institution; thus, it is essential that a clear picture of the “jobs to be done” are defined and valued. PerspectiveThe approach of a task force charged with developing a teaching workload policy is described. Through this work, it was recognized that essential roles of the contemporary pharmacy educator have not been defined, resulting in workload policies that might only value and recognize “traditional” educator roles. This led the task force to evaluate the forces driving change in education and to identify the roles of faculty as educators. The stepwise approach used to define nine essential roles of contemporary pharmacy educators is described. ImplicationsRoles of the educator have become more complex, and traditional definitions of these roles do not recognize and value the multifaceted nature of the job to be done. Consideration of contemporary definitions of educator roles is a critical first step for developing workload policies. The new definition of educator roles will allow the academic institution to have more clarity around total teaching effort and recognize the value faculty provide the institution. We believe this is the essential first step for the Academy when developing teaching workload policies that are fair and equitable, while also understanding the overall faculty needs for executing their educational enterprise.

Assessment of medicines and potential pharmaceutical wastes management among households in Lamongan, Indonesia

Background: Storing medicines at home has been linked with irrational use, misuse, and pharmaceutical waste leading to an increased burden on the health system. Objective: This study examined the practice of storing and handling medicines at home, calculated the potential economic loss of pharmaceutical wastes, and measured the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of household medicine management. Method: A cross-sectional household survey using a pre-validated ReDiUM (Return and Disposal of Unused Medications) questionnaire was conducted in Lamongan, Indonesia. A convenience sampling of 100 families was done and the findings were subsequently analysed. Results: A low portion of families (37%) obtained medicines from authorised pharmacies. The majority (68%) mentioned that housewives managed the medicines at home. More than half (57%) stated that they still keep the leftover medicines and only one-third of the respondents (37%) stored them in the medicine basket. As a result, potential economic loss was estimated at around $2 per family. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient test showed a strong positive association between knowledge and attitude (p < 0.05) Conclusion: Management of medicines at home has been an underrated topic within contemporary pharmacy research despite its potential threat to community health.

EXPERIENCE IN THE BRUNCH OF INTERNATIONALIZATION OF HIGHER PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION ON THE EXAMPLE OF PHARMACOGNOSY AND MEDICAL BOTANY DEPARTMENT OF I. HORBACHEVSKY TERNOPIL NATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

Abstract. Internationalization of higher education is one of the key factors of efficiency and competitiveness of a higher educational institution. The main forms of international cooperation through which the process of internationalization of education takes place are institutional partnership, integration of educational standards into curricula, mobility of educational programs, professional mobility of teachers and academic mobility of students.
 
 Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University Ministry of Health of Ukraine is making a lot of efforts on the way to internationalization and setting a number of strategic tasks.
 
 The aim was to study the process of internationalization in practice on the example of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Medical Botany of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Employees of the department participate in international projects, report at international conferences, symposia, congresses and visit foreign countries for the purpose of improving their qualifications. They publish the results of their scientific research and development in rated international publications. These artic­les are indexed in various scientometric databases, including Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, Index Copernicus and others. Foreign students study at the department and are trained to work abroad as highly qualified specialists. Employees of the department organize All-Ukrainian scientific and practical conferences with international participation “Chemistry of natural compounds”. They also participated in the 18th Hellenic Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry (Greece) and the international conference “Contemporary Pharmacy: Issues Challenges and Expectations 2022”. Every year the department revises and modernizes educational programs and tasks, adding to them the information that was “gathered” in the framework of the exchange of experience with colleagues from other countries of the world. The result of this is the training of highly qualified, competitive specialists.
 Thus, the internationalization of higher medical education is an important issue of the integration of Ukrainian higher education institutions into the world educational and scientific environment.

Development of an evaluation framework for health information communication technology in contemporary pharmacy practice

BackgroundHealth information communication technology (ICT) has rapidly evolved in contemporary pharmacy practice worldwide. The Australian healthcare system is experiencing a paradigm shift to real-time interconnectivity for practitioners and consumers and interoperable digital health. With these developments come a need to evaluate use of technologies specifically in pharmacy practice to optimize their clinical functionality. There are no published frameworks for evaluating ICT needs or implementation in pharmacy practice. ObjectiveThis paper proposes a theoretical framework for evaluating health ICT in pharmacy. MethodsDevelopment of the evaluation framework was informed by a systematic scoping review and health informatics literature. Specifically, the framework drew upon critical appraisal and concept mapping of the TAM, ISS and HOT-fit validated models, with respect to health ICT in contemporary pharmacy practice. ResultsThe proposed model was named the Technology Evaluation Key (TEK). The TEK comprises of 10 domains; healthcare system, organization, practitioner, user interface, ICT, use, operational outcomes, system outcomes, clinical outcomes and timely access to care. ConclusionsThis is the first published proposed evaluation framework developed for health ICT specifically in contemporary pharmacy practice. TEK represents a pragmatic way to ensure the development, refinement and implementation of new and existing technologies in contemporary pharmacy practice to keep pace with the clinical and professional requirements of community pharmacists. Operational, clinical and system outcomes should be evaluated as coexisting factors that may impact implementation. Validation research utilizing Design Science Research Methodology will enhance utility for end users and ensure the relevance and application of the TEK to contemporary pharmacy practice.

Health information communication technology evaluation frameworks for pharmacist prescribing: A systematic scoping review.

Information communication technology (ICT) is instrumental in pharmacists' current practice and emerging roles. One such role is prescribing, which requires the use of clinical guidelines and documentation of decision-making, commonly via ICT. Development and refinement of ICT should be guided by evaluation frameworks that describe or measure features of ICT and its implementation. In the context of pharmacist prescribing, these evaluation frameworks should be specific to health stakeholders and the pharmacy setting. To identify ICT evaluation frameworks from health-related literature and review frameworks relevant to the development, implementation, and evaluation of pharmacist prescribing. A database search of CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline (Ovid), ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science and grey literature was conducted, using combinations of keywords relating to 'ICT', 'utilization', 'usability', and 'evaluation framework'. Abstracts and titles were screened according to inclusion criteria. Identified evaluation frameworks were critiqued for relevance to pharmacy practice. Twenty-two articles were identified, describing the development or application of 20 evaluation frameworks. None of the frameworks was developed specifically for pharmacy practice. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), describing use behavior, behavior intention, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use, was the most widely utilized framework. The Information System Success (ISS) and Human-Organization and Technology Fit (HOT-fit) are notable evaluation frameworks that address user and organizational influences in health ICT utility, and factors of both can address the limitation of TAM. The findings call for development of an agile evaluation framework for the system under review; however, this can prove difficult due to the heterogenicity and complexity of the healthcare system, particularly contemporary pharmacy practice. While the TAM appears useful to evaluate user attitudes and intentions towards ICT, its relevance to ICT in contemporary community pharmacy practice requires exploration.

The case to improve technologies for pharmacists' prescribing.

Increased healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent natural disasters have highlighted the value of community pharmacists in the efficient and effective delivery of health services. In Australia, legislative amendments have enabled pharmacists to extend the supply of certain prescription medicines to better address their community’s needs in emergency situations.[1] Authors have argued for longer term and broader expansion of nonmedical prescribing to maintain these efficiencies and enhance the public’s timely and equitable access to essential prescription medicines.[2] This Commentary argues that expanded and fully integrated pharmacist prescribing will require greater access to a range of health information communication technology (ICT) platforms to assist pharmacists’ clinical decision-making and to meet legal and ethical obligations in relation to clinical documentation. Specifically, we call for a tailored evaluation framework for health ICT to support contemporary pharmacy practice and prescribing roles of pharmacists.

Call to Integrate Content Related to Disabilities Into Contemporary Pharmacy Curricula

The curricula of US schools and colleges of pharmacy provide students with only a cursory introduction to patients with disabilities, and this is usually achieved through didactic content. These brief introductions are considered helpful; however, pedagogical approaches do not provide comprehensive content for mastery of skills and strategies for delivering accessible healthcare services to patients with disabilities. Student pharmacists' need to obtain the requisite education, knowledge, and skills to provide effective healthcare to patients with disabilities. Accordingly, it is essential that schools and colleges of pharmacy prepare student pharmacists to be competent and confident in providing effective and accessible care to this underserved patient population.

The essential research curriculum for doctor of pharmacy degree programs – 2021

AbstractTraining in the scientific method and research design in doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) curricula enables critical thinking, acquisition of reliable information, rigorous evaluation of emerging literature, and application of evidence‐based medicine in practice. Although research skills are essential for clinical pharmacists and many professional societies recognize the critical need for research in the Pharm.D. curriculum, standardization regarding essential research curricular competencies and content is lacking. Consequently, research skill development is often de‐emphasized in pharmacy education in favor of clinical knowledge and skills. This update to the recommendations of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy's 2008‐2009 Task Force on Research in the Professional Curriculum is provided to meet the evolving needs of contemporary pharmacy practice. The update discusses the importance of research training for Pharm.D. students, proposes essential research competencies and curriculum content for Pharm.D. programs, and highlights several successful strategies for fostering research among Pharm.D. students. In particular, the update advocates enhanced adoption of minimum standards for research skill development across Pharm.D. programs and integration of advanced research competencies to support the development of Pharm.D.‐trained scientists.

Biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic aspects of hopantenic acid in pediatric pharmacotherapy

The development of efficient, high-quality, harmless and affordable pharmaceutical forms for drug treatment in pediatrics is a current task of contemporary pharmacy. Currently, psychiatrists and neurologists from various curative-prophylactic institutions prescribe for children and adolescents nootropic preparations in the form of tablets, powders and syrups, in various neurological diseases, the share of which, according to national and international statistics, is constantly increasing. Currently, the prescription of hopanthenic acid is gaining popularity, thanks to its neuroprotective, neurotrophic, neurometabolic, antidepressant, anxiolytic and analgesic effects. The presented paper has as starting point the analysis of the structural-molecular properties of hopanthenic acid, exposed by biopharmaceutical study, pharmacokinetic parameters and strategies for optimizing pharmaceutical formulations with gastric release.

Electronic Health Records in Pharmacy Skills-based Curricula

Electronic health records (EHRs) are integral to contemporary pharmacy practice. The use of EHRs and associated skill development in curricula across pharmacy education is variable. Skills-based courses in the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum are ideal areas to develop these competencies' and integrate EHR use and skills with the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process. Consideration should be given by each school and college of pharmacy for having an EHR curriculum embedded within skills-based courses to prepare students for advanced pharmacy practice experiences as well as professional practice after graduation. A consensus on what skills or competencies should be consistently included in pharmacy curricula should be developed across pharmacy education to increase consistency in the delivery of EHR skills education and assessment. Emphasis on EHR skills and incorporation of them into national pharmacy education standards would help further guide development and assessment, as well as ensure new pharmacists are on the cutting edge of patient care and technology.

Profession Driven Improvement of the Quality of Pharmacy Practice-Implementation of Community Pharmacy Services Quality Guidelines in Estonia.

Constant improvement of the quality of community pharmacy services is important in the development of contemporary patient care. A national and voluntary Community Pharmacy Services Quality Guidelines (CPSQG) was developed to formulate the principles of contemporary pharmacy services, including quality criteria for service provision. The purpose of this study was to identify the implementation of the CPSQG as a profession-driven initiative towards improving and harmonizing community pharmacy services in Estonia. Three cross-sectional electronic surveys were conducted among community pharmacies in Estonia in 2014 (N = 478 pharmacies), 2016 (N = 493), and 2019 (N = 494), and the CPSQG indicators were used for evaluation of the service quality. In this study, the aggregated data, collected in three study years were used to identify the implementation of guidelines into practice. For data analysis, the One-Way ANOVA test and Post-hoc multiple comparisons were used. The results demonstrated slow implementation of the CPSQG, but guidelines-based evaluation enabled a detailed overview of the community pharmacy activities and provided services. In order to develop community pharmacy services more efficiently, the use of implementation science principles, continuous introduction of the CPSQG to the pharmacists, and more active involvement of the state could be considered in the future.

QUALITY CONTROL MEASUREMENT AND IN VITRO BIOEQUIVALENCE OF VALSARTAN AND ATENOLOL TABLETS MARKETED IN UKRAINE

Background. The urgent issue of hypertension is determined by its high population incidence, significant burden of the disease, risk of disability and impact on life expectancy. Rational combinations of drugs of different pharmacological groups in case of ineffectiveness of monotherapy to achieve the clinical effect of pharmacotherapy are clearly recommended in the world and national recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. Therefore, innovative pharmaceutical development of a combination of antihypertensive drugs and creation of domestic drugs with antihypertensive action is an urgent task of contemporary pharmacy.
 Objective. The aim of this study was to perform the quality control measurements and evaluation of dissolution tests for different brands of valsartan and atenolol tablets available in Ukraine. 
 Methods. The concentrations of valsartan and atenolol in samples (drug content and dissolution study) were determined by the proposed HPLC method. 
 Results. The results of the tests conducted for evaluation of the tablets were found to be in acceptable limits for all the selected brands. The correlation coefficient (R2) was 0.9991 and the regression equation was y=61.39x+0.3117. It has been established that the equivalence of dissolution profiles for all recommended dissolution media is observed (рН 1.2, 4.5, and 6.8) for the studied drugs. In all three dissolution media, the release rates of valsartan and atenolol of all dosage forms are more than 85% in 15 min. The dissolution profile of all the selected brands was within the standard limits and was acceptable.
 Conclusions. Analytical method development is an integral part of the quality control measurements and evaluation of dissolution tests. Our previously developed HPLC method is essential for quality control of a large number of samples in short time intervals. Therefore, the method developed by our group is suitable for a routine quality control analysis of any pharmaceutical preparation containing two tested drugs with the suggested chromatographic method advantages for checking quality during dissolution studies of their dosage forms.

Expanding pharmacy resident research capacity through integration of introductory pharmacy practice experience students into a prospective research study: A novel application of the layered learning practice model

AbstractIntroductionResearch and quality improvement projects are routine in contemporary pharmacy practice and are valuable components of experiential training for pharmacy students. There are descriptions of the layered learning practice model (LLPM) for expanding direct patient care activities, but its application in clinical research has not been described in the literature.ObjectivesThis case study provides a description of the novel integration of introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) students into a prospective research study led by a pharmacy resident to expand screening, enrollment, and data collection capacity.MethodsIPPE students were integrated into a prospective, observational study evaluating the effect of time to restart of prior to admission psychotropic medications on the development of intensive care unit (ICU) delirium. Using the LLPM, attending pharmacist preceptors mentored the pharmacy resident, who then assumed the primary preceptor role for three IPPE students. Students were integrated into project activities including institutional review board submission, data collection, and data analysis. Study data were collected and managed using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDcap). Student contributions to longitudinal research activities were quantified using descriptive statistics.ResultsThere were 487 patients screened for study enrollment, and 112 patients were included in the study. Research team members completed 890 ICU delirium screenings using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM‐ICU) tool and inputted 243 prospective medication reconciliations. Collectively, the students, resident, and pharmacist preceptors completed 48.6%, 38.7%, and 12.7% of CAM‐ICU assessments, respectively. This study was associated with increased opportunities for pharmacy resident‐led and student‐led scholarly activities.ConclusionThe integration of IPPE students into a prospective research study was successful in using the LLPM in expanding resident research capacity while being mutually beneficial to the pharmacy students and residents.

Impact of early direct patient care introductory pharmacy practice experiences on student pharmacists' career exploration

Background and purposeThe University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy piloted a novel longitudinal introductory experiential program to provide second (P2) and third (P3) year professional students early exposure to pharmacist-provided direct patient care, opportunity to develop professionally expected behaviors, and ability to explore contemporary pharmacy career options. This paper describes the influence of the pilot on pre-advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) career interests and professional development. Educational activity and settingForty P2 and P3 students participated in the longitudinal experiential pilot course. Students were assigned to 32 pharmacist preceptors in a variety of direct patient care practices. Students completed 16 onsite hours over the fall semester. Influence of the pilot experience on APPE plans and future career interests was assessed by an end of experience reflective assignment and survey. FindingsThe pilot course served as the initial exposure for the majority of students to both direct patient care and specialized areas of pharmacy practice. Nearly half of students indicated the experience advanced their knowledge of pharmacists' scope of practice and potential career opportunities. Most students (85%) reported the experience influenced future career plans, with half indicating increased interest in their specific practice specialty. Over 75% planned to pursue an APPE in that practice area. Nearly all students reported making professional contacts through this experience. SummaryEarly exposure to direct patient care and specialized pharmacy practice areas through this IPPE provided students opportunity to inform career interest and develop professional contacts with preceptors in specialized practice areas.

Lichens in al-Biruni’s Kitab al-Saydanah fi al-Tibb

Abstract Lichens are understood to be symbiotic organisms consisting of mycobiont and photobiont partners. This mutual partnership results in the production of unique secondary metabolites, which are used in contemporary pharmacy and medicine. The purpose of this study is to explore the uses of lichens in a particular period of medieval pharmacology: it retraced the relevant Arabic terms for, and descriptions of, lichens in the Kitab al-Saydanah fi al-Tibb, the “Book of Pharmacy in Medicine” written by Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni (973-1048). It will be shown that al-Biruni used اشنة (ushnah) for naming epiphytic lichens and حزاز الصخر (hazaz al-sakhr) for saxicolous ones. The information about lichens transmitted in his text is in accordance with that of his contemporary Ibn Sina, the famous physician and philosopher. In that period, the study, transmission and updating of the legacy of Antiquity promoted and influenced the use of lichens in Arabic and Islamic pharmacology and medicine.

A Critical Assessment of Contemporary Pharmacy Curriculum: Views and Experiences of Foreign Trained Pharmacists

A Critical Assessment of Contemporary Pharmacy Curriculum: Views and Experiences of Foreign Trained Pharmacists

We are all patient-centred now, aren't we? Lessons from new pharmacy graduates

IntroductionPatient-centredness is considered integral to the delivery of modern healthcare. This qualitative, longitudinal study explored the meaning and development of the practice of pharmacy graduates, leading to a focus on patient-centredness. The approach adopted in this study aligned with the principles of hermeneutic phenomenology. MethodsTwelve pharmacy graduates (seven females) from The University of Queensland were observed at work and interviewed about their experiences of pharmacy practice every six months for two years following graduation. ResultsThese 12 graduates initially understood and enacted pharmacy practice in a range of ways. A distinguishing characteristic related to how patients/customers featured in their practice. For some, ensuring the efficient supply or administration of correct and safe medicines with instructions was the focus, with patients viewed as source and recipient of information. For others, the focus was communicating effectively with patients/customers to provide individualised advice to avoid medication-related problems. A third group focused on achieving a broader goal, to provide individualised care to optimise health outcomes from medicines. Initial understanding of patient-centredness remained largely unchanged for most participants over the two years, despite the passage of time and experience gained. ConclusionsThis study calls into question an assumption of a common meaning for patient-centredness. The findings highlight the need to question and debate what patient-centredness means in contemporary pharmacy practice, rather than simply being an aspirational or theoretical concept. It is important that pharmacists and educators appreciate the centrality of understanding of practice for development, to optimally facilitate the development of patient-centred pharmacists.

Curricular Hoarding

As practice evolves and scientific advancements are achieved the natural inclination for educators and administrators is to add new content to existing curricula. Often pre-existing curricula that may be outdated or no longer relevant may go un-checked leading to excessive coursework and program completion times. Faculty may also have emotional or other attachments to certain topics or content and that may serve as an additional or independent barrier to removing extraneous material. To avoid and curtail curricular hoarding of material it may be prudent to periodically engage in reviews of material assessing them for not only adherence to accreditation standards but also in terms of their on-going appropriateness and relevance to contemporary pharmacy practice. These exercises may be especially important today given the rate of information creation and dissemination in the modern digital age.