RESEARCH ARTICLE: Pharmacy education during and beyond COVID-19 in six Asia-Pacific countries: Changes, challenges, and experiences

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2020.202.183195

Keywords:

COVID-19, Pharmacy Education, Thematic Analysis, Webinar

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic shifted pharmacy education to remote teaching and learning (T&L) strategies. To share changes, challenges, and experiences in pharmacy education among member countries, the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations hosted a 1.5-hour webinar on 15th May 2020. Questions collected during registration and the live webinar were coded using thematic analysis. A total of 794 participants from 18 countries/territories registered, while 346 attended the webinar. Of 445 questions, 392 were from the registration form and 53 from the webinar. All questions were coded to four major themes: new normal pharmacy education, ethics and safety, material accessibility, and teaching and evaluation methods. Questions during registration were mostly on new normal adaptation (n=79), T&L formats (n=65), and access/resources/ sustainability (n=59). Webinar questions were mainly on assessment format (n=13), laboratory skills (n=9), and access/resources/sustainability (n=9). The webinar provided an opportunity to quickly identify issues regarding pharmacy education during the COVID-19 pandemic for prompt actions and further research.

Author Biographies

Mohamad Haniki Nik Mohamed, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia

Head - Internationalization and Global Network

Vivienne Mak, Monash University, Australia

Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

G Sumalatha, Vikas Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, India

 

 

Agung Endro Nugroho, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Dean - Faculty of Pharmacy

 

Triana Hertiani, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Faculty of Pharmacy

 

Mohd Zulkefeli, International Medical University, Malaysia

Dean - School of Pharmacy

 

Enkhjargal Dorjbal, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Mongolia

School of Pharmacy

Shinezaya Dashbaljir, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Mongolia

School of Pharmacy

Erwin Martinez Faller, San Pedro College, Philippines

Faculty of Pharmacy

 

Christine Aileen Ching Benosa, Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA), Philippines

Secretary General

 

Syahrir Zaini, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia

 

 

References

Allen, M. (2017). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods. SAGE Publications Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA

Barman, A., & Das, K. (2020). Pre-Print: Re-casting E-Learning and E-education during COVID-19 Pandemic. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341384419_Pre-Print_Re-casting_E-Learning_and_E-education_during_COVID-19_Pandemic_-A_study_on_the_e-learning_initiatives_with_special_reference_to_North-East_India

Brazeau G., & Romanelli F. (2020). Navigating the uncharted waters in the time of COVID-19. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 84(3), 290. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8063

Cazarez, R.L.U., & Joseph, E. Aoun. (2020). Robot proof: higher education at the age of artificial intelligence. Genetic Programming and Evolvable Machines, 21, 265–266

Centro Escolar University. (2015). Program Offered (Pharmacy). Available at: https://manila.ceu.edu.ph/pharmacy-programs-offered

Commission on Higher Education. (2006). CMO No. 03 Series of 2006. Policies, Standards and Guidelines for Pharmacy Education. Available at: https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/CMO-No.03-s2006.pdf

Commission on Higher Education (2018). List of Authorized Undergraduate Programs. Available at: https://ched.gov.ph/ched-recognized-programs/

Commission on Higher Education. (2020a). Advisory No. 5 Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Mitigation of the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19 in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Available at: https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/CHED-HEI-COVID-19-Advisory_No.5_15Mar2020.pdf

Comission on Higher Education. (2020b). Advisory No. 6 Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Mitigation of the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19 in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Available at: https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/CHED-COVID-19-Advisory-No.-6.pdf

Congress of the Philippines. (2016). An Act Regulating and Modernizing the Practice of Pharmacy in the Philippines. Available at: https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2016/ra_10918_2016.html

Council of Pharmacy Schools. (2020). Guiding principles for pharmacy student clinical education during a global health emergency. Available at: https://www.pharmacycouncil.org.au/news-publications/news/200424-cps-guiding-principles-for-clinical-education.pdf

Dooley, M. (2020). Thank you on behalf of the JPPR. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 50(2), 117-121. https://doi.org/10.1002/jppr.1654

Faller, E.M., Cruz-Bacayo, M.F.D., & Abustan, A.B. (2016). Competency Assessment of Clinical Pharmacy Education in the Philippines: A Basis for Curriculum Framework. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5(3), 215-226

Faller, E.M., San Gabriel, J., Plantilla, R.K.G., Tan Nery, J., Madelo, J.S. (2020). Quality of Pharmacy Learnings, Challenges and Opportunities during and beyond Pandemic Covid-19 in the Philippines. (on going).

Faller, E.M., Tolentino, E.A., & Nagaria, R.A. (2019). Pharmacy Practice in the Philippines. In Encyclopedia in Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy, (Ed. Z. Baber), Elsevier Science & Technology, pp.546-555

Ichikawa, A. (2007). Pharmaceutical Common Achievement Test: Computer-Based Testing (CBT), Yakugaku Zasshi, 127(6), 941-945. https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.127.941

James, R. (2016). Tertiary student attitudes to invigilated, online summative examinations. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-016-0015-0

Koirala, A., Joo, Y.J., Chiu, C., & Britton, P.N. (2020). Vaccines for COVID-19: the current state of play. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 35, 43-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prrv.2020.06.010

Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). (2020). Compilation guiding principles for professional programmes during COVID-19 pandemic. Available at: https://www.mqa.gov.my/pv4/document/Kompilasibdnprof/13%20Lembaga%20Farmasi%20Malaysia.pdf

Marcelo, E. (2014). Thousands of professors expected to lose jobs with K-12 implementation, GMA News. Available at: https://www. gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/365460/thousands-of-professors-expected-to-lose-jobs-with-k-12-implementation/story/

Monash University. (2020). In their own words: Work placements put students on the COVID-19 frontline. Available at: https://lens.monash.edu/@medicine-health/2020/05/22/1380489/in-their-own-words-work-placements-put-students-on-the-covid-19-frontline

OECD [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development]. (2018). Future of Education and Skills 2030: Conceptual Learning Framework. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/education/2030-project/about/documents/Education-and-AI-preparing-for-the-future-AI-Attitudes-and-Values.pdf

Panti, L.T. (2020). CHED: Classes should all start in August amid COVID-19 crisis. Available at: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/737667/ched-classes-should-all-start-in-august-amid-covid-19-crisis/story/

Pharmaceutical Services Programme: Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2020). List of Recognised Pharmacy Schools in Malaysia. Available at: https://www.pharmacy.gov.my/v2/en/content/list-recognized-pharmacy-degree-pharmacy-board-malaysia.html

Philippine Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. (2017). PACOP held FDS 2015 at UST. Available at: https://www.pacopphils.org/newsannouncements.htm

PIKA UGM. (2020a). Infografis Pembelajaran Daring. Available at: http://pika.ugm.ac.id/id/2020/03/31/infografis-pembelajaran-daring-2/

PIKA UGM. (2020b). Survei Pelaksanaan UTS dan UAS Daring di UGM. Available at: http://pika.ugm.ac.id/id/2020/06/08/survei-pelaksanaan-uts-dan-uas-daring-di-ugm/

Professional Regulation Commission. (2020). Pharmacist Primer. Available at: https://www.prc.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Pharm acist_PRIMER.pdf

Rosales, F. (2019). 2019 Top Performing Pharmacy Schools in the Philippines. Available at: https://www.localpulse.net/education/top-schools/2019-top-performing-pharmacy-schools-in-the-philippines-32405/

Ryan, G.W. (2004). Using a word processor to tag and retrieve blocks of text. Field Methods, 16(1), 109-130. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X03261269

Schwab, K. (2016). The Fourth Industrial Revolution, World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10686967.2018.1436355

Shah, A.U.M., Safrie, S.N.A., Thevadas, R., Noordin, N.K., Rahman, A.A., Sekawi, Z., Ideris, A., & Sultan, T.H. (2020). COVID-19 Outbreak in Malaysia: Actions Taken by the Malaysian Government. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 97, 108-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.093

Sharma, A.K. (2020). COVID-19: Creating a paradigm shift in India’s Education System. Available at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-commentary/covid-19-creating-a-paradigm-shift-in-indias-education-system/

Tamm, S. (2019). Disadvantages of E-Learning. Available at: https://e-student.org/disadvantages-of-e-learning/

University of Santo Tomas. (2016a). Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, major in Clinical Pharmacy (5 years) . Available at: http://www.ust.edu.ph/academics/programs/bachelor-ofscience-in-pharmacy-major-in-clinical-pharmacy/

University of Santo Tomas. (2016c). Indiana pharmacist talks about UST’s new PharmD program. Available at: http://www.ust.edu.ph/academics/indiana-pharmacist-talks-about-ustsnew-pharmd- program/

University of the Immaculate Conception. (2014). Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Major in Clinical Pharmacy Prospectus. Available at: https://www.uic.edu.ph/pharmchem/prospectus/

UP College of Pharmacy. (2017). Bachelor of Science in Industrial Pharmacy. Available at: http://cp.upm.edu.ph/academics/academic-programs/industrial-pharmacy/

University of Santo Tomas. (2016b). Department of Pharmacy. Available at: http://www.ust.edu.ph/faculty-of-pharmacy/department-of-pharmacy/

Watling, C.J. &, Ginsburg, S. (2019). Assessment, feedback and the alchemy of learning. Medical Education, 53(1), 76-85. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.13645

Downloads

Published

11-01-2021

How to Cite

Nik Mohamed, M. H., Mak, V., Sumalatha, G., Nugroho, A. E. ., Hertiani, T., Zulkefeli, M. ., Dorjbal, E., Dashbaljir, S., Faller, E. M. ., Benosa, C. A. C., & Zaini, S. (2021). RESEARCH ARTICLE: Pharmacy education during and beyond COVID-19 in six Asia-Pacific countries: Changes, challenges, and experiences. Pharmacy Education, 20(2), p. 183 – 195. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2020.202.183195

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 2 (2020): COVID-19 Special Collection

Section

COVID-19 Research Paper

License

It is a condition of the publication that authors vest or license copyright in their articles, including abstracts, in FIP. This enables us to ensure full copyright protection and to disseminate the article, and the journal, to the widest possible readership in print and electronic formats as appropriate. Authors may, of course, use the material elsewhere after publication providing that prior permission is obtained from FIP. Authors are themselves responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyright material from other sources.