Continuing Pharmacy Education Research Articles

Exploring knowledge, attitudes and practice toward medication therapy management services among pharmacists in Yemen.

Medication therapy management (MTM) refers to the activities provided by pharmacists that patients recognize as evidence of care being provided. It encompasses the services that patients value and consider valuable. Many developing nations like Yemen have had poor implementation of MTM services. Thus, this research assessed the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of Yemen pharmacists regarding MTM. We conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire among pharmacists in Sana'a, Yemen. They were recruited through convenience sampling. The alpha level of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Four hundred and sixty-one (461) pharmacists completed the questionnaire. About 70% were working in community pharmacies and 57.3% had (1-5) years of experience in pharmacy practice. The younger pharmacists had a higher level of knowledge than pharmacists with older age with median and IQR of 1.2(1.2-1.4) and 1.2(1-1.4) respectively (p < 0.001). Yemen pharmacists have positive attitudes toward MTM indicating a moderated level of attitudes with a median and IQR of 3.8(3.5-4). Hospital pharmacists expressed more positive attitudes toward MTM (P < 0.001) than pharmacists from other areas of practice. Only 11% of sampled pharmacists frequently offered MTM services. The top MTM service reported by Yemen pharmacists was "Performing or obtaining necessary assessments of the patient's health status". However, "Formulating a medication treatment plan" received the least provided MTM service among Yemen pharmacists. Even though MTM services are not commonly utilized in pharmacy practice, Yemeni pharmacists have positive attitudes concerning MTM. Efforts are needed to enhance their MTM knowledge and the value of providing MTM services as well as to develop a culture of continuing pharmacy education about MTM among pharmacists.

Continuing Professional Development Activities Provided by Continuing Pharmacy Education Providers

ObjectiveTo describe continuing professional development (CPD)–related continuing pharmacy education (CPE) activities from 2018 through 2023. MethodsThis was an exploratory study using CPE activities offered by US-based accredited providers from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Provider Web Tool. Activities were selected based on submission and expiration date, which included activities active from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2023. The words “professional development” were used to search for CPE activities based on titles. Frequencies were calculated for provider type, delivery method, and activity types. Content analysis was used to identify categories, subcategories, and elements or components of the CPD cycle from activity titles and learning objectives. ResultsA total of 204 activities were identified, with the most common provider type being college or school which provided 41% (n = 83) of the activities. Most activities were designed for pharmacists 76% (n = 156) and primarily delivered in a live seminar format (68%, n = 138) and used a single delivery method (92%, n = 187). Content analysis identified 7 categories and 23 subcategories of activities. Of the 7 activity categories, only 3 had subcategories which reflected elements or components of CPD: precepting and teaching; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and CPD process and principles. ConclusionThis study identified that most CPE activities and learning objectives reflected educational interventions without the inclusion or use of the CPD cycle or process, suggesting that additional provider education on the implementation of CPD and differentiation between CPE and CPD may be necessary.

Longitudinal Exploration of Strategies Advancing Continuing Professional Pharmacy Education in a Major University: an in- Depth Study on Impact

Background: In the dynamic healthcare landscape, pharmacists contend with the challenge of staying current with evolving knowledge. Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) programs, play a pivotal role in addressing this need. This study focuses on a six-year evaluation of CPE programs at a College of Pharmacy, aiming to assess the impact of a multifaceted approach on various educational outcomes. Materials and Methods: The University College of Pharmacy Office of Continuing Professional Education implemented a multifaceted approach from 2017 to 2022. Changes included hiring a full-time coordinator, offering on-site and online programs, establishing partnerships, identifying knowledge gap through surveying participants, and enhancing digital presence beyond others. Data from this period were compared with the preceding six years (2010 2016). Evaluation metrics covered attendee the number and diversity, program growth, and professional impact. Results: The study showcased significant improvements in various aspects of CPE programs. Pharmacist attendees increased by 816.67%, with a notable rise in non-pharmacy participants. Geographical distribution saw a surge in out-of-state and international participants. Program content witnesseda shift towardsinfectious diseases and pain management. The number of CPE programsand awarded hours experienced a fivefold increase, reflecting a commitment to a diverse curriculum. Participant feedback consistently indicated high satisfaction with knowledge enhancement, applicability, and program usefulness. Conclusion: Over the six-year period,the evaluation revealedsubstantial advancements in our CPE programs. Increased pharmacist attendance, diversified participant engagement, and expandedgeographical reach underscored the program's success.The exponential growth in program offerings reflected a commitment to diverse and extensive education. Positive participant feedback, indicating sustained impact on drug therapy management, patient safety, and public health outcomes, affirmedthe enduring effectiveness of the CPE programs. While acknowledging study limitations, this comprehensive analysis highlights the success and ongoing efforts to enhance CPE programs at major university. Future research should address these constraints for a more nuanced understanding of CPE program impact.

Exploring LGBTQ+ cultural competency and DEI in continuing education: A cross-sectional review of U.S. pharmacy legislation

BackgroundLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, or other sexual orientations or gender identities (LGBTQ+) cultural competency training is offered in pharmacy curricula to variable extents. State legislation directly dictates pharmacist training through continuing pharmacy education (CPE) requirements. ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify the U.S. states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) that require CPE or training on topics related to LGBTQ+ cultural competency or topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in general. In addition, this study quantified and compared each state’s CPE hours required for each renewal period. MethodsThis cross-sectional study retrospectively examined pharmacy legislation on CPE requirements for each of the 50 U.S. states and D.C. Only state legislation that was signed into law and related to pharmacy practice was included. Official websites for each board of pharmacy were identified to locate lawbooks, laws, rules, regulations, and statutes specific to pharmacy practice. Search terms included “lgbt,” “lgbtq,” “cultural,” “cultural competency,” “equity,” “health equity,” “implicit,” and “implicit bias.” Two study investigators independently collected data from March 2023 to April 2023. Data were re-reviewed for accuracy in January 2024. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion until a consensus was reached. The total number of required CPE hours, years for each pharmacist license renewal, required LGBTQ+ cultural competency CPE hours, and required DEI-focused CPE hours were described using descriptive statistics. ResultsA total of 44 of 51 states and D.C. required 30 CPE hours for each 2-year renewal cycle or 15 CPE hours for each 1-year renewal cycle. California and D.C. had LGBTQ+ cultural competency CPE requirements of 1 CPE hour or 2 CPE hours per cycle, respectively. Five additional states, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington, required training or CPE on topics related to DEI as a whole. ConclusionFew U.S. states require CPE on LGBTQ+ cultural competency. This study highlights the need for standardized pharmacist training in LGBTQ+ health care.

An exploratory mixed-methods evaluation of continuing education opportunities related to the care of sexual and gender minority patients from ACPE-accredited providers.

The objective of this analysis was to describe trends in continuing education opportunities for pharmacy professionals across the US related to the care of sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients. Continuing education programs offered by Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited providers from 2012 through 2022 were identified by searching the ACPE database for titles containing SGM terminology. Data including ACPE provider classification, activity type, format, audience, ACPE topic designator, interprofessional accreditation, contact hours, and learning objectives were collected. Content analysis was used to categorize activities. Following removal of duplicates and non-SGM-focused programming, 726 programs were identified. The most commonly observed program characteristics included a live format (67.6%, n = 491), a pharmacist audience (77.1%, n = 560), knowledge-based activities (90.8%, n = 656), a college or school of pharmacy provider (21.6%, n = 157), an ACPE topic of pharmacy administration (50.6%, n = 367), and a focus on pharmacy rather than interprofessional audiences (87.1%, n = 632). The median program length was 1 hour (interquartile range, 1-1.25 hours). The qualitative analysis identified programs focused on topics of gender-affirming care (pharmacotherapy) (32.1%, n = 233), general SGM (26.7%, n = 194), gender-affirming care (nonpharmacotherapy), sexually transmitted infections (7.2%, n = 52), and health disparities (3.9%, n = 28). Advancement has occurred in the number of available continuing pharmacy education programs focused on the care of SGM patients. Further information regarding specific content and effectiveness of continuing education is necessary to determine strategies to better prepare pharmacy professionals to care for this growing patient population.

A Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) Program Assessing Cannabidiol (CBD) Knowledge and Confidence Among Practicing Pharmacists.

Background: Increased patient utilization of cannabidiol (CBD) leads to potential drug interactions with various medications and questions posed to pharmacists. Objective: To quantify the knowledge gap of pharmacists on CBD and CBD-containing products and assess the degree a continuing pharmacy education (CPE) program alters pharmacist confidence and competency on CBD knowledge. Methods: A 1-h CPE activity was offered as a home study from May 9, 2022, through September 30, 2022. Subjects were practicing pharmacy preceptors in Alabama who completed the pre-survey and post-survey for inclusion in matched-pair analyses. The primary outcome measure was participant score improvement between the pre-post surveys. Secondary measures involved pre-post comparisons on self-rated Likert questions concerning participant confidence in counseling, answering drug information questions, and ensuring patient safety regarding CBD. Results: A total of 124 participants completed the course. After matched pairing, 64 and 56 individuals were included in the knowledge-based and confidence ranking analyses, respectively. Participant scoring improved on the knowledge-based questions between the pre-post surveys (50.0% vs 87.8%, P < .001). There was a significant confidence improvement of participants from baseline on counseling patients about prescription or over-the-counter CBD products, answering questions from other healthcare professionals about these products, and ensuring patient safety while using these products (Average 5-level Likert scale increases of 1.75, 1.73, 1.70, respectively; all P < .001). Conclusion: Implementation of a CPE program improved practicing pharmacists' knowledge on information about CBD, which lead to increased competency on counseling patients, answering drug information questions, and promoting patient safety.

Team-based preceptor model: The foundation of a longitudinal residency learning experience focused on education.

A structured pharmacy grand rounds (PGR) learning experience that incorporates all aspects of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) continuing pharmacy education (CPE) development process for postgraduate year 1 and 2 pharmacy residents is described. Pharmacy residents at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center participate in a structured PGR learning experience as part of the residency completion requirements. Residents are involved in all aspects of educational activity development, including (1) conducting a needs assessment; (2) developing learning objectives; (3) implementing learning assessment methodologies; (4) constructing assessment questions; and (5) applying ACPE standards in the development of CPE activities. A team-based preceptor model focused on the unique attributes of the learning experience, comprising subject matter experts in content and educational best practices, is utilized to support the resident, provide feedback, conduct an evaluation, and ensure a successful experience. Key factors for success include resident instruction related to educational best practices, resources to exemplify the CPE development process, preceptor coaching, and guided self-reflection to identify areas of strength and improvement as an educator. A structured PGR learning experience that incorporates all aspects of the ACPE CPE development process enables pharmacy residents to understand and apply best practices for educational activity development. Utilizing a team of subject matter experts in educational best practices in collaboration with content experts allows for shared preceptor responsibilities and a successful experience for the resident.

A Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) Program Assessing the Knowledge and Confidence Among Practicing Pharmacists

A Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) Program Assessing the Knowledge and Confidence Among Practicing Pharmacists

Addressing buprenorphine bottlenecks in the context of MAT Act implementation: A shared responsibility

Medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) such as buprenorphine reduce overdose mortality and other opioid related acute health events but have historically been highly regulated. The recent Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act ended the requirement clinicians complete a specified training and apply for a DATA 2000 (“X”) waiver on their Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number, to prescribe buprenorphine. With the MAT Act, any practitioner with Schedule III prescribing authority (a regular DEA number) can now prescribe buprenorphine for OUD. While this has potential to improve OUD treatment access, the impact will depend on implementation. Though the MAT Act may facilitate increased buprenorphine prescribing, ensuring adequate buprenorphine dispensing is also critical to improving Medications for opioid use disorder. Recognized buprenorphine bottlenecks arise from a complex convergence of factors in community pharmacies, threatening to undercut the benefits of the MAT Act. If prescribing increases but is not matched by increased dispensing, bottlenecks may worsen. Any worsening of buprenorphine bottlenecks could have a disproportionate impact in rural areas where residents may rely on fewer pharmacies to fill prescriptions for people in larger geographic area and where larger prescribing-dispensing gaps already exist such as in Southern states. Rigorous research will be needed to document the overall impact of the MAT Act on community pharmacists and their patients. At the federal level, pharmacists and their professional organizations should lobby the DEA to de-schedule or re-schedule buprenorphine. The DEA should announce a moratorium on enforcement actions against wholesalers and pharmacies related to buprenorphine distribution and dispensing. More supports should be offered to community pharmacies by state pharmacy boards and associations including continuing pharmacy education and technical assistance for advocating with wholesalers to increase buprenorphine order sizes, and to more effectively communicate with prescribers. Pharmacies should not have to face these challenges alone. Regulators, wholesalers, and researchers must join together with community pharmacies to further reduce regulatory barriers to dispensing, provide evidence-based interventions where needed to support pharmacy dispensing efforts, conduct rigorous implementation research, and be constantly vigilant in identifying and addressing multi-level buprenorphine bottlenecks in the wake of the MAT Act.

Perceptions of Community Pharmacists Towards Patient Counseling and Continuing Pharmacy Education Programs in Sudan.

Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned at the heart of communities, and their patient counseling role is the cornerstone for achieving the required therapeutic goals. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to explore the perceptions of community pharmacists regarding patient counseling, and their perception towards continuing pharmacy education programs. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was performed among randomly selected 238 community pharmacies in Khartoum locality (Sudan) from September 2022 to December 2022. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire adopted from a previous study with few minor modifications, which was adding three sociodemographic questions. Descriptive statistics were carried out according to the study objective to analyze the pharmacists' responses. The majority of the community pharmacists gave counseling and understood its importance to the patients, most of them (70.6%) took 1-5 minutes during the dispensing process. The dose was the most provided information by community pharmacists (26.7%) followed by administration (23.7%) and duration (22.4%). Few (28.2%) of the patients ask the pharmacists about the cost of the medication. Lack of patients' interest (55%) was the major barrier to effective counseling followed by lack of time (47.9%). Almost all (96.2%) pharmacists in this study were interested in continuing pharmacy education programs, and they preferred programs focusing on common diseases (36.6%), and common drugs (30.3%). This study showed that the majority of community pharmacists in the Khartoum locality had positive perceptions toward patient counseling and they were interested in continuing pharmacy education programs.

How Debate Could Facilitate Group Function in Pharmacy Schools

Objective. To study how a debate format could be a helpful tool to enhance group functionality and decision-making in schools of pharmacy.Methods. This study examines the potential of a debate format to facilitate discussion and shift viewpoints. Changes in viewpoint and feedback from the Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP) Cohort 16 debates at the February 2020 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Interim Meeting generated two data sets for each discussion topic to analyze debate effectiveness. Pre- and post-debate audience viewpoints were compared to determine the extent to which debates influenced viewpoints. Continuing pharmacy education (CPE) evaluations of the debate learning objectives provided information on participants' views of the debate format.Results. The debate format appeared to shift opinions on all three topics discussed. In addition, audience members responded in agreement or strong agreement that the debate format was of benefit to both leadership interactions and team environments.Discussion. While group functionality is an important aspect of effective decision-making, it is not always considered in pharmacy school operations. Incorporating debate components could improve the quality of group functionality, thereby positively impacting decision-making in schools of pharmacy.

Development and Assessment of Targeted, Live, and Interactive Continuing Pharmacy Education Workshops in Dementia Care for North Dakota Pharmacists.

Background With the growing US aging population, need for a health care workforce able to provide dementia care will increase. Objective To develop, deliver, and assess interactive live workshops for licensed North Dakota pharmacists in dementia care. Methods Prospective interventional study of impact of free-of-charge, interactive, five-hour workshops for pharmacists providing advanced training in Alzheimer's disease, vascular and Parkinson's disease dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and common reversible causes of cognitive impairment. The workshop was offered three times across two different locations in ND: Fargo and Bismarck. Online pre- and postworkshop questionnaires were administered to collect demographics, attendance rationale, perceived ability to provide dementia care, and workshop quality/satisfaction. A 16-item assessment instrument/ test (1 point/item) was developed to assess pre- and postworkshop competency in dementia-related care (ie, knowledge, comprehension, application, and analysis). Descriptive statistics and paired t-test were performed using Stata 10.1. Results Sixty-nine pharmacists were trained and completed the competency test assessments; 95.7% ND pharmacists completed pre-and postworkshop questionnaires. The overall competency test scores improved from 5.7 ± 2.2 to 13.0 ± 2.8 (P < 0.001) and individual scores for each disease/problem also improved significantly (P < 0.001). Increases corresponded with increased self-reported perceived ability to provide dementia care; 95.4 to 100% of participants agreed/strongly agreed learning needs were met, teaching was effective, were satisfied with content and educational material usefulness, and would recommend workshop. Conclusion Workshop had measurable, immediate benefit on knowledge and ability to apply learned information. Structured, interactive workshops are valuable for improving pharmacists' competency in dementia care.

Facilitating multistate pharmacy practice: Streamlining continuing pharmacy education requirements

A major regulatory impediment to achieving multistate pharmacist licensure is state-specific Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) mandates. States vary on CPE requirements in 6 key domains, presenting a potentially significant administrative burden for multistate pharmacists. In the short term, replicating the nursing compact model of CPE regulation is the most viable model for the pharmacy profession. In this model, a pharmacist would have to follow just the CPE requirements for the state where the pharmacist maintains primary residence, and maintenance of this home state license would be automatically recognized by other states in which the pharmacist practices.

Pharmacy personnel comfort and confidence in screening for social needs: A pilot study

BackgroundAddressing social needs (such as lack of adequate housing, food, and transportation) has been shown to improve medication adherence and overall patient outcomes. However, screening for social needs during routine patient care can be challenging due to lack of knowledge of social resources and adequate training. ObjectivesThe primary objective of this study is to explore the comfort and confidence of community pharmacy personnel in a chain community pharmacy when discussing social determinants of health (SDOH) with patients. A secondary objective of this study was to assess the impact of a targeted continuing pharmacy education program in this area. MethodsBaseline confidence and comfort were measured through a brief online survey consisting of Likert scale questions regarding various aspects of SDOH (e.g., importance and benefit, knowledge of social resources, relevant training, workflow feasibility). Subgroup analysis of respondent characteristics was conducted to examine differences between respondent demographics. A targeted training was piloted, and an optional posttraining survey was administered. ResultsThe baseline survey was completed by 157 pharmacists (n = 141, 90%) and pharmacy technicians (n = 16, 10%). Overall, the pharmacy personnel surveyed lacked confidence and comfort when conducting screenings for social needs. There was not a statistically significant difference in comfort or confidence between roles; however, subgroup analysis revealed trends and significant differences between respondent demographics. The largest gaps identified were lack of knowledge of social resources, inadequate training, and workflow concerns. Respondents of the posttraining survey (n = 38, response rate = 51%) reported significantly higher comfort and confidence than the baseline. ConclusionPracticing community pharmacy personnel lack confidence and comfort in screening patients for social needs at baseline. More research is needed to determine if pharmacists or technicians may be better equipped to implement social needs screenings in community pharmacy practice. Common barriers may be alleviated with targeted training programs to address these concerns.

Community Pharmacists' Knowledge and Perceptions of Buprenorphine for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder.

The aims of the study are to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge and perceptions regarding buprenorphine for opioid use disorder and their willingness to dispense buprenorphine and to identify opportunities for education. An electronic survey of Michigan pharmacists (n = 11,123) assessed demographics, training, buprenorphine knowledge, dispensing, perceptions of stigma, diversion, and confidence in patient/provider interactions. Composite scores for knowledge, stigma, diversion, and confidence were calculated. Cross-tabulations and logistic regressions examined associations. There were 775 surveys returned (response 7%, n = 11,123) with 390 community pharmacists completing the survey. Twenty-five percent practiced in a rural area. Common practice sites were chain or independent pharmacies (30% each). Ninety-seven percent had buprenorphine training, 50% from Accredited Continuing Pharmacy Education. Eighty percent reported that their pharmacy dispensed buprenorphine with 90% of rural pharmacists compared with 71% urban responding yes. Composite knowledge scores did not differ between urban or rural location ( P > 0.05). Predictors of willingness to dispense buprenorphine were urban location (odds ratio, OR, 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34-0.91; P = 0.01), independent pharmacy (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.30-0.94; P = 0.03), Accredited Continuing Pharmacy Education training (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.34-0.87; P = 0.01), low stigma/diversion (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.37-0.70; P = 0.00), and confidence in patient/provider interactions (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.10-0.19; P = 0.00). Most survey pharmacists practice at pharmacies that dispense buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, with a larger proportion from rural pharmacies reporting availability. Pharmacists at independent pharmacies in urban locations have increased willingness to dispense buprenorphine, with urban pharmacists having lower perceptions of diversion compared with rural. Differences in buprenorphine availability, pharmacist willingness to dispense, and perceptions are opportunities for education. Limitations include one state, response bias, self-assessed competencies, and small samples.

Clinical and Research Applications of the Electronic Medical Record in Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review of Current Uses and Future Applications.

The electronic medical record (EMR) has revolutionized health care workflow and delivery. It has evolved from a clinical adjunct to a multifaceted tool, with uses relevant to patient care and research. A MEDLINE literature review was conducted to identify data regarding the use of EMR for multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical care and research. Of 282 relevant articles identified, 29 were included. A variety of EMR integrated platforms with features specific to MS have been designed, with options for documenting disease course, disability status, and treatment. Research efforts have focused on early diagnosis identification, relapse prediction, and surrogates for disability status. The available platforms and associated research support the utility of harnessing EMR for MS care. The adoption of a core set of discrete EMR elements should be considered to support future research efforts and the ability to harmonize data across institutions.

Promising practices and pockets of excellence: Community pharmacists supporting wellness for reproductive-age women.

Promising practices and pockets of excellence: Community pharmacists supporting wellness for reproductive-age women.

Expedited partner therapy: Investigating pharmacists’ awareness and training needs in the Northeastern United States

BackgroundSexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States are at an all-time high. Expedited partner therapy (EPT) has been endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent reinfection of patients and their partners. Although this practice is permissible in 46 states, including all of New England and New York, it is underutilized by prescribers and pharmacists. ObjectivesTo collect and analyze data on pharmacists’ knowledge of EPT using a Web-based survey and to determine the best methods to deliver EPT continuing pharmacy education and related resources. MethodsA link to a 26-question survey was sent through e-mail listservs, social media, and newsletters to members of pharmacists’ associations in 6 New England states and New York. In addition to demographic information, the questions assessed pharmacists’ familiarity with and awareness of EPT, their roles in using this clinical service, and options for type, length, and location of related training plus types of information resources that would be most helpful for them. ResultsA total of 133 pharmacists completed the survey. Only 50% overall were familiar with EPT as a concept, and more than 80% of pharmacists did not know which STIs are covered by their state EPT regulations. However, 85% of pharmacists responded they believed they played a potential role in EPT. A majority responded that a less than 2-hour live webinar would be the best format for EPT education, in addition to other resources distributed from their respective state boards of pharmacy. ConclusionPharmacists in the Northeastern United States lack overall awareness of EPT and how it is regulated. With continuing pharmacy education delivered in their preferred format, augmented by State Board of Pharmacy resources, pharmacists can play a critical role to facilitate access for patient and partner treatment of STIs.

Continuing Pharmacy Education: Exploring the Status and Future Prospects in Nepal

Continuing pharmacy education (CPE) is an educational way for pharmacy professionals to develop competency in providing quality pharmaceutical care to patients. The CPE program helps maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills, increase the professionalism of pharmacists, and positively impact patient health outcomes. However, the concept and practice of CPE are still in their infancy in Nepal. Nepal’s conventional pharmacy education system involves didactic lectures focusing more on theoretical learning than practical and experiential approaches, leading to the generation of pharmacists theoretically knowledgeable but practically non-competent to deliver pharmaceutical care services in independent practice settings. Additionally, in the absence of CPE, the professionals might miss updated information on new therapies, technologies, and approaches in patient management. The community and hospital pharmacies in Nepal are often business-oriented rather than service, and may not even be staffed by pharmacists, so the CPE programs are rarely conducted for the pharmacy professionals. Hence, the present commentary aimed to explore the status of CPE and its barriers or challenges in implementation and to suggest solutions in Nepal.

Medication Management in Lactation—A Pharmacist Education Pilot Project: Part one survey

BackgroundPharmacists as the most accessible health professionals can serve as an important resource on medication safety for breastfeeding women. Previous research suggests that a barrier to pharmacists providing optimal pharmaceutical care for this population is a lack of knowledge. ObjectiveTo evaluate pharmacist perceptions and barriers related to medication management of patients who are breastfeeding. MethodsA 25-question electronic survey was distributed via e-mail list servers to members of state pharmacy organizations. Pharmacists were queried on the importance of breastfeeding, barriers to pharmaceutical care, comfort level in making pharmacotherapy recommendations, adequacy of pharmacy school’s curriculum, breastfeeding resources used, and need for continuing pharmacy education regarding medication use during breastfeeding. ResultsPharmacists from all geographic regions of the United States and diverse practice settings agreed to participate in the survey (N = 197). Most pharmacists reported feeling somewhat or extremely comfortable making recommendations and counseling breastfeeding patients on over-the-counter (102 of 187, 55%) and prescription medications (110 of 187, 59%). In contrast, 66% (123 of 187) reported feeling somewhat or extremely uncomfortable making recommendations and counseling on the use of herbal supplements in breastfeeding. Notably, 95% of pharmacists (171 of 180) responded that there is an unmet need for continuing pharmacy education on medication use in lactation. ConclusionPharmacists are generally uncomfortable when making recommendations and counseling breastfeeding patients on herbal and other supplements. Most pharmacists agree that there is a lack of available continuing pharmacy education on breastfeeding.