RESEARCH ARTICLE: Identifying the teaching content on substandard and falsified medical products in global pharmacy education as critical public health issue
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2021.211.504516Keywords:
Pharmacy education, Pharmacy curriculum, Substandard and falsified (SF) medical productsAbstract
Aim: To gain insight into the education about substandard and falsified (SF) medical products.
Method: A digital survey was sent to 173 different schools of pharmacy around the world.
Results: The response rate was 32% (55 responses, 37 countries). Most schools taught about SF medical products as a stand-alone course or as part of another course or module (67%), whereas 33% did not teach about the subject. The main focus of teaching was on detection (21%) and prevention (21%) of SF medical products, while reporting was taught the least (12%), indicating a knowledge gap in that area. A key barrier to introducing a new course that could close the gaps was insufficient time in pharmacy curriculum (n=33; 60%), while availability of ready-to-adopt course materials was considered as a helpful enabler.
Conclusion: These insights can improve the understanding on what is already being taught on SF medical products, where the gaps are and inform the curriculum needed globally.
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