Thai Pharmacy Research Articles

Factors associated with pharmacotherapy course learning achievements in Thai pharmacy students

IntroductionThe doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program is designed for direct patient care experiences. To prepare pharmacy students to have adequate clinical knowledge and skills, pharmacotherapy is a vital course. Due to the difficulties of courses, several students had unsuccessful learning achievements and insufficient clinical skills. The objective was to explore factors associated with pharmacotherapy course learning achievements in pharmacy students. MethodsA cross sectional survey was designed and undertaken in 2020. Pharmacy students who enrolled at least one pharmacotherapy course were included. A 39-item questionnaire was developed and distributed electronically. Content validity and reliability tests (Cronbach's α = 0.928) were performed. Descriptive statistics and univariate and logistic regression were used in this study. ResultsThe results indicated that four factors were found to be associated with higher grade point average: participation in a study group (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.47, 95% CI 0.23–0.97) for Pharmacotherapy I; self-assessed success for Pharmacotherapy II and Advanced Pharmacotherapy (adjusted OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.19–6.01 and adjusted OR 3.45, 95% CI 1.03–11.59, respectively); using social media in the classroom (adjusted OR 12.16, 95% CI 2.03–72.72); and motivation by advisors (adjusted OR 640.74, 95% CI 2.03–201,675.55) for Pharmacotherapy III. Moreover, reviewing material after class (adjusted OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.10–0.71) and using social media in the classroom (adjusted OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.01–4.07) revealed the association with cumulative grade point average. ConclusionsThere were various factors associated with pharmacotherapy learning achievements. These included factors from learners, instructors, and environment.

Knowledge, attitude, and intended practice of abortion among pharmacy students in Thailand after the amendment of the Thai Abortion Law

BackgroundThe recently amended Thai abortion law allows pregnant women to undergo abortions up to the gestational age of 12 weeks. Medical abortion is significant because it has revolutionized access to safe abortion care—abortion medicine can now be safely and effectively administered outside of a healthcare facility to women in early pregnancy. This contribution supports the pharmacists’ role in interprofessional safe abortion teamwork. Adequate knowledge of the current laws regarding safe abortion services will increase pharmacists’ competence in providing services. However, safe abortions as a subject have not been formally incorporated into the curriculum for Thai pharmacy students. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and intended practice of fifth-year pharmacy students at Chulalongkorn University.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using an electronic self-administered questionnaire adapted from previously published studies to evaluate participants’ knowledge of the recently amended Thai abortion law, attitude toward abortion, and intended practices. The invitations were sent to all fifth-year pharmacy students at Chulalongkorn University.ResultsAmong all invitations sent, 104/150 (69.3%) participants responded to the survey. Only a third of the participants (31.7%) had good knowledge scores. Based on five questions regarding the gestational age limit for legal abortion, most participants (52.7%) answered questions incorrectly. Although more than half of the participants (52.5%) disagreed with two pro-choice statements, an overwhelming majority (87.5%) agreed that abortion was a woman’s right. Safe abortion services were mostly agreed upon with serious fetal defects (91.9%), non-HIV maternal health conditions (82.2%), and sexual assaults (77.4%). A positive attitude toward abortion affects the intention to perform an abortion under socioeconomic conditions.ConclusionMost participants lacked knowledge on the amended abortion law, especially on the gestational limits of abortion. Participants with favorable attitudes toward abortion tended to be more liberal regarding safe abortion services.

Determination of Factors in Cultural Dimensions and SERVQUAL Model Affecting the Corporate Image of Pharmacy Retail Stores

Thailand has a rapidly growing pharmaceutical sector, which is the eighth largest in the Asia-Pacific region and one of the largest and most developed among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. This study examines how to provide the most appropriate approach to enhance Thailand's pharmaceutical services to dispense medicine to end consumers. The main objective is to determine the most appropriate corporate image for Thai Pharmacy Retail Stores (PRSs) for entering the ASEAN market community. An exploratory mixed-method design characterized by qualitative and quantitative phases of data collection and analysis and the linking of data from these two separate data strands was adopted to conduct an in-depth interview with pharmacists and the owner of pharmacy retail stores as well as 405 respondents who had visited a pharmacy retail store and interacted with pharmacists during the previous year. The multiple linear regression (MLR) was applied to analyze the relative influences of perceived service quality and the cultural dimension on the corporate image. Findings reveal that the perceived service quality and cultural dimension contribute 50% towards the corporate image, and the perceived service quality had more effect than cultural dimension. This study mainly focuses on PRSs in Thailand, while the findings show other analyses concerning how to successfully create and promote an effective PRS image for ASEAN markets.

U.S.‐Thai Consortium for the development of pharmacy education in Thailand: History, progress, and impact

AbstractIn Thailand during the early 1990s, there was a need for an increased number of pharmacists and expansion of their knowledge and skills to address the need of the nation. Leaders of the Thai pharmacy education community at the time crafted a long‐term plan aiming to expand the pharmacy educator workforce at a national scale through the financial support of the Royal Thai Government. This led to the establishment of the United States‐Thai Consortium for the Development of Pharmacy Education in Thailand in 1994. The aim of the Consortium was to advance pharmacy education in Thailand through the support of leading U.S. pharmacy schools using both short‐term and long‐term trainings. Twenty plus years later, pharmacy education and practice in Thailand have changed dramatically. The number of faculties (schools) of pharmacy in Thailand has increased from 10 in 1993 to 19 in 2013. The ratio of pharmacists to population has decreased from 1:10532 in 1994 to 1:2261 in 2016. The professional pharmacy curriculum has changed from a 5‐year bachelor to a 6‐year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. The role of Thai pharmacists has been endorsed by national health service initiatives and practice guidelines. Currently, 7 universities offer residency/fellowship programs. The 8 Thai founding institutions of the Consortium are now publishing over 500 papers in high‐quality international journals annually. In summary, pharmacy education, practice, and research in Thailand have improved dramatically through the U.S.‐Thai Pharmacy Consortium. This bi‐national model of knowledge and skill transfer may serve as an example for how a large‐scale international partnership can facilitate a rapid and positive transformation of pharmacy in a developing country. Local adjustment and adaptation are required to reflect national identity and to suit the local context.

PNS110 BARRIERS TO COMPLIANCE WITH ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT GUIDELINES IN COMMUNITY PHARMACIES IN THAILAND.

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics are associated with increased antibiotic resistance globally, including in Thailand. Community pharmacies in Thailand can supply antibiotics directly to patients without a prescription. Inappropriate supply of antibiotics from Thai community pharmacies to the public for common, self-limiting diseases, such as, upper respiratory infections, acute diarrhoea and wounds has been reported. This study aimed to explore barriers that might make it difficult to comply with the rational use of antibiotics in community pharmacies in Thailand. A purposive sample of community pharmacists in six provinces in Thailand were invited to participate. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted in Thai, transcribed and analysed inductively using thematic analysis. Ethics approval was obtained from Cardiff and Ubon Ratchathani Universities. Twenty-three community pharmacists were recruited (urban/rural, chain/independent, male/female and with a range of experience). In terms of barriers to comply with antibiotic treatment guidelines three themes were identified: (1) barriers related to patients: patients’ lack of knowledge about indications for antibiotics, patients’ perceptions regarding benefits, or otherwise, of antibiotics, advice from those other than healthcare professionals, (2) barriers related to community pharmacists: conflict of interest between pharmacy profession and business, lack of updated knowledge relating to antibiotic use, and pharmacists’ views toward antibiotic resistance and (3) regulatory factors (Thai pharmacy regulator and government): need for strengthened enforcement of laws and regulations related to antibiotic supply. Pharmacists reported several barriers to being able to comply with the rational use of antibiotics. Community pharmacists perceived a lack of knowledge by patients and the business model of pharmacy to be important barriers. Further research is required to determine if these views are prevalent across larger numbers of community pharmacists, and other stakeholders, across Thailand so that improved appropriate supply of antibiotics from community pharmacies in Thailand can be facilitated.

A National Survey of Community Pharmacists on Smoking Cessation Services in Thailand.

Providing smoking cessation services is one role of community pharmacists in Thailand. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate activities and barriers related to smoking cessation services provided in community pharmacies in Thailand, as well as to compare these activities and barriers between those pharmacists providing and those not providing smoking cessation services. A postal questionnaire was conducted to collect information from community pharmacists across Thailand. In all, 413 valid responses were received from 5235 questionnaires, giving a 7.9% response rate. Of the 413 respondents, 152 (37%) pharmacists provided smoking cessation services in their pharmacy. The activities of smoking cessation services varied. Time for counseling each smoker varied, a mean of 15.1 ± 10.9 min (range 1–60) per person for the first time, and 8.9 ± 6.7 min (range 1–30) for each follow-up visit. Community pharmacists, providing smoking cessation services, were more likely to have pharmacist assistants, be a member of the Thai Pharmacy Network for Tobacco Control, and have more than 1 pharmacist on duty. The most dispensed pharmaceutical product for smoking cessation was nicotine gum. Their most perceived barriers were being unable to follow-up and inadequate staff. In conclusion, only a minority of community pharmacists in Thailand are engaged in smoking cessation activities, even though some perceived barriers existed.

Are we on the right track? Answers from a national survey of Thai graduates' perceptions during the transition to the 6-year PharmD program.

PurposeTo serve the higher demands of pharmaceutical services, pharmacy education in Thailand has shifted from 5-year BPharm program to 6-year PharmD program with two specialization tracks: pharmaceutical care (PC) and industrial pharmacy (IP). This study aimed to compare the perceptions regarding professional competencies, pharmacy profession, and planned workplace between graduates with 5-year BPharm and 6-year PharmD and between those with PC and IP specialty.MethodsA cross-sectional national survey using a paper–pencil self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all new graduates attending the pharmacy licensure examination in March 2015.ResultsOf all 1,937 questionnaires distributed, 1,744 were returned and completed (90% response rate). Pharmacy graduates rated highest on their competencies in professional ethics, followed by PC services and system management. They rated low confidence in medication selection procurement and pharmaceutical industry competencies. The 6-year PharmD graduates showed higher confidence in ethics and professional pride than the 5-year BPharm graduates. Graduates with PC specialty rated higher perceived competency in PC, system management, primary care, and consumer protection domains, while the IP graduates were superior in IP and medication selection and procurement domains, and most graduates (PC and IP) intended to work mainly in a hospital or a community pharmacy. Hospital was preferred for the PC graduates, and the IP graduates were more likely to work in pharmaceutical industry, regulation and consumer protection, sales and marketing, and academia.ConclusionWith some gaps still to be filled, the transition from 5-year BPharm to 6-year PharmD program with specialty tracks gave extra confidence to graduates in their specialty competencies and professional pride, leading to differences in preferred workplace. The findings of this study reflect that Thai pharmacy education continues to adjust to the needs of the society and the changing health care environments. Longitudinal monitoring to observe this transition is needed for both curriculum adjustment and competency of the graduates.

PIH27 - Moderating Effects Between Year of Study and Nationalities of Pharmacy Students from Thailand and Malaysia on Health Behaviour and Academic Achievement 2017

1. To compare health behavior and associated factors among university students in MSU and Burapha University pharmacy students. 2. To investigate moderating effect of two independent variables- year of studying and nationality on health behavior and academic achievement. A cross-cultural, survey study via self-administration questionnaire was performed among pharmacy student in 1st year - 3rd year of MSU and BU pharmacy students in 2017. All 606 students in the population frame were selected as sample. Independent variables were nationality and year of studying, dependent variable were BMI, health behavior, exercise, quality of sleep, breakfast, quality of food, quality of rest and targeting in life and GPAX. The response rate was 71.29%. Scale reliability for Life Style scale was .7851. Thai BU pharmacy students and Malaysian MSU students were not different in age, body mass index, standard allowance money quality of sleep and targeting in life (p=0.560, 0.139, 0.570, 0.506, 0.064 respectively, ANOVA). However, when compared means of quality of food they ate, health behavior, exercise, and resting, BU student got average score more than MSU students (p=0.000, 0.000, 0.001, 0.000, respectively, ANOVA). Malaysian pharmacy students at MSU had significant greater GPAX than Thai pharmacy students at BU. GPAX between 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year students were not significantly different between two countries (p=0.000, 0.092, respectively, Two-way ANOVA). There was no significant modernrating effect between 2 independent variables (nationality and year of studying) (p=0.226, Two way ANOVA). Thai students’favorite sports were jogging, swimming and basketball whereas Malaysian pharmacy students’favorite sports were jogging, boxing and sepak. Two nationalities (Thai and Malaysian) were not different in basic demographic data. MSU GPAX is greater than BU GPAX. There was no moderating effect between nationality and year of study on GPAX of the two nations.

In vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of Pikut Trichinthalamaga remedy

The Pikut Trichinthalamaga remedy appears in ancient Thai pharmacy scripture, as a purgative, and includes Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum L.), Myrabulan fruit (Terminalia chebula Retz.), and Gamboge (Garcinia handuryi Hook F.). We investigated the cytotoxic properties of the herbal extracts using the SRB assay in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (LS174T and SW480) and normal lung fibroblast cell (MRC-5) as well as their antioxidant activities by chemical-(ABTS assay) and cell-based assays [nitric oxide (NO) assay]. The active fractions were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation and quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). The ethanolic extract of Pikut Trichinthalamaga remedy had a cytotoxic effect on LS174T and SW 480 cells (IC50 = 0.39 and 0.51 μg/ml, respectively). The ABTS assay showed that the water extract of the myrabulan fruit had the highest activity (EC50 = 5.69 μg/ml) while the NO assay showed that the ethanolic extract of Pikut Trichinthalamaga remedy had the most potent inhibitory activity on NO production (EC50 = 0.62 μg/ml). After liquid–liquid partitioning sequence, the chloroform fraction had the highest cytotoxicity. Emodin, forbesione, gaudichaudionic acid and gaudichaudionol were identified in this extract. These results support the further investigation of the Pikut Trichinthalamaga remedy as a potential anticancer drug.

Does a transition in education equate to a transition in practice? Thai stakeholder's perceptions of the introduction of the Doctor of Pharmacy programme.

BackgroundPharmacy education and pharmacy practice are facing remarkable changes following new scientific discoveries, evolving patient needs and the requirements of advanced pharmacy competency for practices. Many countries are introducing or undertaking major transformations in pharmacy education. The Thai pharmacy curriculum has been changed from a 5-year BPharm and a 6-year PharmD to only a 6-year PharmD programme. Curriculum change processes usually involve stakeholders, including both internal and external educational institutions, at all levels. This study aims to understand the experiences and perceptions of stakeholders regarding the transition to an all-PharmD programme in Thailand.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted in Thailand with 130 stakeholders (e.g., policy makers, pharmacy experts, educators, health care providers, patients, students and parents) from August-October 2013. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using an inductive thematic analysis.ResultsThree main themes were derived from the findings: 1. influences on curriculum change (e.g., the needs of pharmacists to provide better patient care, the US-Thai consortium for the development of pharmacy education); 2. perceived benefits (e.g., improve pharmacy competencies from generalists to specialists, ready to work after graduation, providing a high quality of patient care); and 3. concerns (e.g., the higher costs of study for a longer period of time, the mismatch between the pharmacy graduates’ competency and the job market’s needs, insufficient preceptors and training sites, lack of practical experience of the faculty members and issues related to the separate licenses that are necessary due to the difference in the graduates’ specialties).ConclusionsThis is the first study to highlight the issues surrounding the transition to the 6-year PharmD programme in Thailand, which was initiated due to the need for higher levels of competency among the nation’s pharmacists. The transition was influenced by many factors. Many participants perceived benefits from the new pharmacy curriculum. However, some participants were concerned about this transition. Although most of the respondents accepted the need to go forward to the 6-year PharmD programme, designing an effective curriculum, providing a sufficient number of qualified PharmD preceptors, determining certain competencies of pharmacists in different practices and monitoring the quality of pharmacy education still need to be addressed during this transitional stage of pharmacy education in Thailand.

Hospital pharmacists' perceptions of the suitability of doctor of pharmacy graduates in hospital settings in Thailand.

BackgroundThai pharmacy education has moved to an all Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programme. However, there has been no previous research about the perceptions regarding the suitability of PharmD graduates employed in hospital settings, which is the major pharmacy workforce in Thailand.MethodsA cross-sectional survey questionnaire was distributed to 180 hospital pharmacists at the 2013 Association of Hospital Pharmacy (Thailand) conference. This study aimed to explore Thai hospital pharmacists’ perceptions concerning the suitability of the PharmD graduates employed in hospital settings and the competency differences between the Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) and PharmD graduates. Descriptive statistics were used to present the participants’ demographics and their perceptions. An inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the open-ended written answers.ResultsNinety-eight valid responses were included in the data analysis (response rate of 55.6 %). The majority of the respondents (76.5 %) felt that the PharmD graduates were suited for the hospital setting and addressed its need for more professionals working in pharmaceutical care and with multi-disciplinary teams. Approximately 55 % of respondents agreed that there were competency differences between the BPharm and PharmD graduates. Major themes emerged in response to the open-ended written answers showing that PharmD graduates had high competency in patient care services and readiness to work, particularly in large hospitals, due to their training to work in specialised areas (e.g., special clinics, ward rounds). However, PharmD graduates require more training in health promotion and humanistic skills and need the system to promote the role of PharmD in pharmaceutical care.ConclusionsPharmD graduates were suited for hospital settings. However, there were concerns regarding the suitability of the PharmD graduates for the community hospital and primary care hospital settings because of their insufficient training in health promotion and disease prevention. Half of the respondents perceived PharmD graduates as having higher competencies in clinical activities and being more prepared to work than BPharm graduates. However, the other half of the respondents perceived the competency of both pharmacy qualifications as being similar, as PharmD graduates provide non-clinical activities similar to BPharm graduates due to the high workload in dispensing services and the shortage of hospital pharmacists, which prevent PharmD graduates from providing direct pharmaceutical care services.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12909-015-0471-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Comparison of self-reported professional competency across pharmacy education programs: a survey of Thai pharmacy graduates enrolled in the public service program.

IntroductionThai pharmacy education consists of two undergraduate programs, a 5-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BScPsci and BScPcare) degree and a 6-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D). Pharmacy students who wish to serve in the public sector need to enroll in the public service program. This study aims to compare the perception of professional competency among new pharmacy graduates from the three different pharmacy programs available in 2013 who enrolled in the public service program.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among new pharmacy graduates in 2013 using a self-administered, structured, close-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of respondents’ characteristics and perception of professional competencies. The competency questions consisted of 13 items with a 5-point scale. Data collection was conducted during Thailand’s annual health professional meeting on April 2, 2013 for workplace selection of pharmacy graduates.ResultsA total of 266 new pharmacy graduates responded to the questionnaire (response rate 49.6%). There were no significant differences in sex and admission modes across the three pharmacy programs. Pharm D graduates reported highest competency in acute care services, medication reconciliation services, and primary care services among the other two programs. BScPsci graduates reported more competence in consumer health protection and herbal and alternative medicines than BScPcare graduates. There were significant differences in three competency domains: patient care, consumer protection and community health services, and drug review and information, but no significant differences in the health administration and communication domain among three pharmacy programs.ConclusionDespite a complete change into a 6-year Pharm D program in 2014, pharmacy education in Thailand should continue evolving to be responsive to the needs of the health system. An annual survey of new pharmacy graduates should be continued, to monitor changes of professional competency across different program tracks and other factors which may influence their contribution to the health service system. Likewise, a longitudinal monitoring of their competencies in the graduate cohort should be conducted.

A National Survey of Training and Smoking Cessation Services Provided in Community Pharmacies in Thailand

Over the past few years, several training programs have been run in support of smoking cessation services within community pharmacy circles in Thailand. These have included a comprehensive training program offered by the Thai Pharmacy Network for Tobacco Control (TPNTC) and brief training programs run by other agencies. This study provides an estimate of the scale of smoking cessation activities among Thai pharmacies, and examines the impact of both the brief and comprehensive training programs on the provision of smoking cessation services. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 3,600 Thai community pharmacists. A total of 1,001 questionnaires were returned (response rate: 27.8%). Smoking cessation services were provided by 71.1% of the respondents, and 47.4% of such services gave only brief advice. Comprehensive services (defined by the 5A's: ask, advise, assess, assist, and arrange follow-up) accounted for 15.3% of the respondents. Only 293 pharmacists (29.6%) said they had received cessation training; 62.5% of whom had received such training from TPNTC. The receipt of brief and comprehensive training was associated with a higher rate of the provision of brief advice, when compared with no training, showing adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 2.93 (95% CI, 1.66-5.18) and 5.93 (95% CI, 3.18-10.17) respectively, while evidence of differences between these training programs was not observed, having an adjusted OR of 1.94 (95% CI, .89-4.21). TPNTC trained pharmacists were 4.98 times (95% CI, 2.24-11.05) more likely than those who received other brief training to provided the 5A's cessation services. All types of training program help to promote the provision of brief counseling by pharmacists. Comprehensive training is associated with the increased provision of both 4A's and 5A's cessation services.

Compliance of drugstores with a national smoke-free law: A pilot survey

To examine the outcome of the recent implementation of a smoke-free policy in drugstores in Thailand, comparing participants and non-participants of the 100% smoke-free drugstore campaign promoted by the Thai Pharmacy Network for Tobacco Control (TPNTC). A cross-sectional survey of 3600 drugstores in Thailand. Smoking prevalence on the premises, the number of stores displaying no-smoking signs, and the number of stores selling cigarettes were examined. In total, 1001 questionnaires were returned (27.8% response rate). Smoking prevalences inside and outside drugstores in the past month were 26.4% and 84.7%, respectively. Seven percent of drugstores had at least one staff member who smoked tobacco. Overall, 63.3% of drugstores displayed no-smoking signs, as required by law. Compared with non-participating drugstores, those which participated in the TPNTC smoke-free campaign more frequently reported that they had asked smokers to stop smoking/leave the premises, in addition to possessing and displaying no-smoking signs. Approximately one-third of drugstores in this survey did not meet the terms of the recent smoke-free regulation. The TPNTC campaign improved the compliance of drugstores with the law in various aspects. This study was considered a pilot study, and despite the low response rate, the findings suggest a need for further action to ensure that all drugstores comply with the law and are 100% smoke-free.

Evaluation of Curricula Content Based on Thai Pharmacy Competency Standards

To evaluate the curricula content of Thai pharmacy schools based on the Thai pharmacy competency standards. Course syllabi were collected from 11 pharmacy schools. A questionnaire was developed based on the Thai pharmacy competency standards. Course coordinators completed the questionnaire assessing the curricula content. The curricula for both the bachelor of science in pharmacy degree (BS Pharm) and doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree programs included the minimum content required by the 8 competency domains. The dominant content area in BS Pharm degree programs was product-oriented material. The content ratio of patient to product to social and administrative pharmacy in the BS Pharm degree programs was 2:3:1, respectively. However, the content ratio suggested by the Thai Pharmacy Council was 3:2:1, respectively. For the PharmD programs, the largest content area was patient-oriented material, which was in agreement with the framework suggested by the Thai Pharmacy Council. The curricula of all Thai pharmacy schools met the competency standards; however, some patient-oriented material should be expanded and some product-oriented content deleted in order to meet the recommended content ratio.

Pharmacist perceptions of new competency standards

To suggest revisions to the Thai pharmacy competency standards and determine the perceptions of Thai pharmacy practitioners and faculty about the proposed pharmacy competency standards. The current competency standards were revised by brainstorming session with nine Thai pharmacy experts according to their perceptions of society's pharmacy needs. The revised standards were proposed and validated by 574 pharmacy practitioners and faculty members by using a written questionnaire. The respondents were classified based on their practice setting. The revision of pharmacy competency standard proposed the integration and addition to current competencies. Of 830 distributed questionnaires, 574 completed questionnaires were received (69.2% response rate). The proposed new competency standards contained 7 domains and 46 competencies. The majority of the respondents were supportive of all 46 proposed competencies. The highest ranked domain was Domain 1 (Practice Pharmacy within Laws, Professional Standards, and Ethics). The second and third highest expectations of pharmacy graduates were Domain 4 (Provide pharmaceutical care) and Domain 3 (Communicate and disseminate knowledge effectively). The expectation for pharmacy graduates' competencies were high and respondents encouraged additional growth in multidisciplinary efforts to improve patient care.

Activities and perceptions of pharmacists providing tobacco control services in community pharmacy in Thailand

Community pharmacists' involvement in tobacco control and their perceived role and barriers were assessed. In part I, a self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 164 community pharmacists who applied for community pharmacy accreditation from the Thai Pharmacy Council in 2003. In part II, an in-depth interview was conducted among 13 community pharmacists who participated in the 1-day smoking cessation services training. Main outcome measures were tobacco control-related activities, perceived tobacco control role, and perceived barriers. The questionnaire response rate was 51% (83/164 pharmacists), with half of the respondents (42/83, 51%) reporting active tobacco control activities. Of these pharmacists, seven (7/42, 17%) reported participating in public or policy advocacy by campaigning against smoking in the community. Thirty-four (34/42, 81%) and thirty-six (36/42, 86%) reported engaging in activities in their own pharmacies by providing educational materials and smoking cessation services, respectively. Even though the perceived roles in tobacco control of these pharmacists were high, they also reported several barriers, especially in five categories: lack of client demand, lack of educational materials, lack of smoking cessation products, lack of knowledge and skill, and lack of follow-up visits. On the other hand, lack of time and lack of reimbursement were not indicated as important barriers. Data from in-depth interviews confirmed these findings. This study revealed that Thai community pharmacists were engaged in various levels of tobacco control-related activities. Most of them perceived the significance of tobacco control activities. However, several barriers were also reported and need to be addressed further.

Comparisons of American, Taiwan, and Thai Pharmacy Students’ Perceptions of Factors Affecting Their Academic Performance

Comparisons of American, Taiwan, and Thai Pharmacy Students’ Perceptions of Factors Affecting Their Academic Performance