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My Conference Notes: Future of Pharmacy
Blogs are not edited by PJ staff*. The opinions expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Pharmaceutical Journal.
*Blog pieces that have previously been printed in the PJ and Clinical Pharmacist are edited.
By Kazeem Olalekan
Defining professionalism (and its elements) in early career pharmacists
R. Elvey, P. Lewis, E. Schafheutle, S. Willis, S. Harrison and K. Hassell
This is a qualitative research using focus groups and individual interviews from the perspectives of early career pharmacists, qualified pharmacists, pharmacy pre-registration tutor and pharmacy support staff.
Key messages from this study for me, are:
Expanding teaching capacity in pharmacy education: how to engage practicing pharmacists in teaching?
Z. Lim and C. Anderson
This is another interesting piece of work which was undertaken by the researchers in Malawi. Again this was a qualitative research using ethnographic approach.
Key messages from this study for me, are:
The impact of the introduction of the GPhC Code of conduct for pharmacy students, and fitness to practise procedures on MPharm students in Great Britain
J. Groocock, G. Kitson, S. McGlen, M. Salek and P. Rogers
The GPhC Code (link) for students started by the RPSGB in 2009-10 and adopted by GPhC. This study was trying to access the awareness of the code and to understand if schools of pharmacy have implemented the code without major problems. Although the response rate was low,
Key messages from this study for me, are:
Research in pharmacy and the role of the undergraduate programme: Course Directors’ perspectives
I. Stupariu, I.S. Blagbrough, J.I. Millar, P.J. Rogers and J.W. Sutton
This study tries to shed some light on the research method content of the undergraduate courses from course directors’ perspective - A questionnaire was sent to 24 school of pharmacies(SoP).
Key messages from this study for me, are:
Development of a new postgraduate training programme in pharmacovigilance
D. Layton, L. Harvey, D. Brown and S. Arkle
This study explored the feasibility of developing a postgraduate training program in pharmacovigilance; an area where a clear need was identified. This is essentially a market need exploratory research using a limited mailing database (No randomisation plus low response rate).
Key messages from this study for me, are:
In summary therefore, the future looks something like this:
You go to University to study Pharmacy
You behave yourself according to the GPhC code throughout your study
You are thought to do research by those doing research and by those practising pharmacy
You come out as a TAT with all the ‘soft’ skills you can muster
and You decide to continue to acquire further qualification like that pharmacovigilace one -
Lifelong learning and all that.
You will do all these because you are passionate about the profession of pharmacy and you are passionate about the great impact you will have on the healthcare of your patients.
This is the future that makes me smile - a lot.
20 Sep 2011
When I am thinking of pharmacy, I like to scan the horizon. The question that always flash through my mind is: Will pharmacy be relevant in 5, 10 or 15 years time? What can we learn from the past that can inform our future? What can we learn from other places, other settings that can enhance our professional future? It is with all these in mind that I attended the break-out session chaired by Jane Portlock at the recent RPS Conference. The session is titled: Supporting the future of pharmacy through education and professionalism. I wasn’t disappointed. With the post, I hope to express what I felt were 2 key take home message from each speaker:
Defining professionalism (and its elements) in early career pharmacists
R. Elvey, P. Lewis, E. Schafheutle, S. Willis, S. Harrison and K. Hassell
This is a qualitative research using focus groups and individual interviews from the perspectives of early career pharmacists, qualified pharmacists, pharmacy pre-registration tutor and pharmacy support staff.
Key messages from this study for me, are:
- Professionalism = Trustworthiness, Acting with integrity and Trusting in own knowledge and ability (in effect to be a professional you need to be a TAT :-) )
- To foster that trust you need to have good grasp of ‘soft skills’ like good communication.
Expanding teaching capacity in pharmacy education: how to engage practicing pharmacists in teaching?
Z. Lim and C. Anderson
This is another interesting piece of work which was undertaken by the researchers in Malawi. Again this was a qualitative research using ethnographic approach.
Key messages from this study for me, are:
- If we are to attract practising pharmacists into teaching posts, a number of issues need to be addressed and include remuneration, job and career flexibility.
- Institution must move away from the ‘one-size-fits-all’ model for filling academic posts. A need based approach which is responsive to local needs is important.
The impact of the introduction of the GPhC Code of conduct for pharmacy students, and fitness to practise procedures on MPharm students in Great Britain
J. Groocock, G. Kitson, S. McGlen, M. Salek and P. Rogers
The GPhC Code (link) for students started by the RPSGB in 2009-10 and adopted by GPhC. This study was trying to access the awareness of the code and to understand if schools of pharmacy have implemented the code without major problems. Although the response rate was low,
Key messages from this study for me, are:
- Student are aware of the code and had only slight impact in making them feel restricted in their behaviours.
- All responding Universities have all implemented fitness to practice procedures.
Research in pharmacy and the role of the undergraduate programme: Course Directors’ perspectives
I. Stupariu, I.S. Blagbrough, J.I. Millar, P.J. Rogers and J.W. Sutton
This study tries to shed some light on the research method content of the undergraduate courses from course directors’ perspective - A questionnaire was sent to 24 school of pharmacies(SoP).
Key messages from this study for me, are:
- Importance placed on the research project are varied across SoP
- Supervisors of project in most SoP are not currently research active.
Development of a new postgraduate training programme in pharmacovigilance
D. Layton, L. Harvey, D. Brown and S. Arkle
This study explored the feasibility of developing a postgraduate training program in pharmacovigilance; an area where a clear need was identified. This is essentially a market need exploratory research using a limited mailing database (No randomisation plus low response rate).
Key messages from this study for me, are:
- The result highlight desirable factors of the course structure such as course flexibility etc
- A resulting course has been developed in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth for higher education at Certificate, Diploma and Masters level.
Reference
Session 2 – Supporting the future of pharmacy through education and professionalism – Chair: Jane Portlock. (2011). International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 19, 8-12. doi:10.1111/j.2042-7174.2011.00141.x
In summary therefore, the future looks something like this:
You go to University to study Pharmacy
You behave yourself according to the GPhC code throughout your study
You are thought to do research by those doing research and by those practising pharmacy
You come out as a TAT with all the ‘soft’ skills you can muster
and You decide to continue to acquire further qualification like that pharmacovigilace one -
Lifelong learning and all that.
You will do all these because you are passionate about the profession of pharmacy and you are passionate about the great impact you will have on the healthcare of your patients.
This is the future that makes me smile - a lot.
Relevant link: http://www.pjonline.com/blog_entry/professionalism_and_pharmacy_education
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