Addressing inequities in pharmaceutical education with an International Pharmaceutical Federation toolkit
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2023.231.560573Keywords:
COVID-19, Educational inequalities, Gender equity, Health equity, Higher educationAbstract
Equity in education ensures access to success-supporting tools for all, transcending backgrounds, languages, races, and more. Despite global efforts, achieving equity in higher education remains a challenge, amplified by COVID-19 in pharmaceutical education. Addressing these disparities is vital for fostering a capable, adaptable pharmaceutical workforce meeting diverse healthcare needs. The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) introduces its toolkit to counter such inequities, propelling transformative changes worldwide. This narrative review outlines the toolkit, contextualising educational disparities, probing influential themes, and furnishing resources. It incorporates insights, recommendations, self-assessment tools, and expert perspectives, aiming to rectify inequities in pharmaceutical education universally and at local levels, promoting a proficient and responsive pharmaceutical workforce aligned with society's evolving healthcare demands.
References
Alaoui, S. (2020, August 19). Refugee, pharmacist, instagram star. UNHCR Jordan. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.unhcr.org/jo/13633-refugee-pharmacist-instagram-star.html
Anderson, C., Bates, I., Beck, D., Brock, T., Futter, B., Mercer, H., Rouse, M., Wuliji, T., & Yonemura, A. (2008). The WHO UNESCO FIP pharmacy education taskforce: Enabling concerted and collective global action. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 72(6), 127. https://doi.org/10.5688%2Faj7206127
Ballenger, J. (2010.). Women’s access to higher education leadership: Cultural and structural barriers. Forum on public policy online. https://www.academia.edu/26809814/Womens_Access_to_Higher_Education_Leadership_Cultural_and_Structural_Barriers
Bharti, D. S., Pravin, O. P., Satish, B. K., Ravindra, A. F., & Nidhi, P. l. (2009). Quality education in pharmacy: Need of 21st century. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 2(4), 648–652. https://rjptonline.org/HTMLPaper.aspx?Journal=Research+Journal+of+Pharmacy+and+Technology%3bPID%3d2009-2-4-69
Becuwe, J., & Reading, D. (2019, September 12). Equality impact assessment: Consultation on the initial education and training standards for pharmacists. https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/sites/default/files/document/ietp-post-consultation-equality-impact-assessment-september-2019.pdf
Beyene, W. M., Mekonnen, A. T., & Giannoumis, G. A. (2020). Inclusion, access, and accessibility of educational resources in higher education institutions: Exploring the Ethiopian context. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 27(1), 18–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2020.1817580
Borlik, M. F., Godoy, S. M., Wadell, P. M., Petrovic-Dovat, L., Cagande, C. C., Hajirnis, A., & Bath, E. P. (2021). Women in academic psychiatry: Inequities, barriers, and promising solutions. Academic Psychiatry, 45, 110–119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-020-01389-5
Brown, R. (2017). Higher education and inequality. Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education, 22(2), 37–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603108.2017.1375442
Bukhari, N., Manzoor, M., Rasheed, H., Nayyer, B., Malik, M., & Babar, Z. U. D. (2020). A step towards gender equity to strengthen the pharmaceutical workforce during COVID-19. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 13(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1186%2Fs40545-020-00215-5
Bush, A. A. (2020). A conceptual framework for exploring the experiences of underrepresented racial minorities in pharmacy school. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 84(1), 7544. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8417544
Campbell, H. E., Hagan, A. M., & Gaither, C. A. (2021). Addressing the need for ethnic and racial diversity in the pipeline for pharmacy faculty. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 85(9), 950–958. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8586
Chisholm-Burns, M. A., Spivey, C. A., Billheimer, D., Schlesselman, L. S., Flowers, S. K., Hammer, D., Engle, J. P., Nappi, J. M., Pasko, M. T., Ross, L. A., Sorofman, B., Rodrigues, H. A., & Vaillancourt, A. M. (2012). Multi-institutional study of women and underrepresented minority faculty members in academic pharmacy. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 76(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7617
Council on Higher Education. (2022, March). National review of South African doctoral qualifications 2020-2021. Doctoral Degrees National Report. https://www.che.ac.za/sites/default/files/inline-files/CHE%20Doctoral%20Degrees%20National%20Reporte.pdf
Curley, L. E., Wu, Z., & Svirskis, D. (2018). Using technology in pharmacy education: Pharmacy student performance and perspectives when visual aids are integrated into learning. Frontiers in pharmacology, 9, 1062. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.01062
Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. United Nations. Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal4
Dev, P., Mberu, B. U., & Pongou, R. (2016). Ethnic inequality: Theory and evidence from formal education in Nigeria. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 64(4), 603–660. https://doi.org/10.1086/686739
Ekpenyong, A., Udoh, A., Kpokiri, E., & Bates, I. (2018). An analysis of pharmacy workforce capacity in Nigeria. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 11, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-018-0147-9
European Commission. (2019, July). DG ECHO thematic policy document no 10: Education in emergencies. European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. https://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/news/eie_in_humanitarian_assistance.pdf
Ferreira, F. (2022). Not all inequalities are alike. Nature, 606(7915), 646–649. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-01682-3
FIP Development Goals. (n.d.). Equity & equality. Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://developmentgoals.fip.org/dg10/
Fuller, K. A., Heldenbrand, S. D., Smith, M. D., & Malcom, D.R. (2020). A paradigm shift in US experiential pharmacy education accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 84(6), AJPE8149. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8149
GEM Report. (n.d.). About scope. Global Education Monitoring Report. UNESCO. Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.education-progress.org/en/about
Global Education Meeting. (2021). Paris declaration: A global call for investing in the futures of education. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000380116_spa?posInSet=1&queryId=N-EXPLORE-27f53ef7-ba3e-47c5-ad38-42de631e4333
Haas-Gehres, A., Portillo, E., Kachlic, M. D., & Siu, A. (2021). An opportunity to integrate cultural sensitivity training into the doctor of pharmacy curriculum. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 85(7), 548–551. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8459
Hagan, A. M., Campbell, H. E., & Gaither, C. A. (2016). The racial and ethnic representation of faculty in US pharmacy schools and colleges. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 80(6), 108. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe806108
Henson, B., & Drame, I. (2022). Introduction to implementing health disparities and cultural competence content in the doctor of pharmacy curriculum. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 86(3), 192–194. https://doi.org/10.5688/AJPE8658
Holsinger, D. B., & Jacob, W. J. (Eds.). (2009). Inequality in education: Comparative and international perspectives. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2652-1
Inter-Agency Standing Committee. (2007). Mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings. IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/2020-11/IASC%20Guidelines%20on%20Mental%20Health%20and%20Psychosocial%20Support%20in%20Emergency%20Settings%20%28English%29.pdf
International Pharmaceutical Federation. (n.d.). About FIP-equity Rx. FIP. Retrieved February 28, 2023, from https://www.fip.org/equityrx
International Pharmaceutical Federation. (2020). The FIP-UNESCO UNITWIN programme: A decade of education partnership across Africa. FIP pharmacy education in sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.fip.org/file/4812
International Pharmaceutical Federation. (2022, August 25). FIP toolkit for addressing inequities in pharmaceutical education. Retrieved February 28, 2023, from https://www.fip.org/inequitiesineducation
Jean-Marie, G. (2013). The subtlety of age, gender, and race barriers: A case study of early career african american female principals. Journal of School Leadership, 23(4), 615–639. https://doi.org/10.1177/105268461302300403
le Boedec, A., Anthony, N., Vigneau, C., Hue, B., Laine, F., Laviolle, B., Bonnaure-Mallet, M., Bacle, A., & Allain, J. S. (2021). Gender inequality among medical, pharmaceutical and dental practitioners in French hospitals: Where have we been and where are we now? PLoS ONE, 16(7). e0254311. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254311
Liu, W. H., & Ma, R. (2018). Regional inequality of higher education resources in China. Frontiers of Education in China, 13, 119–151. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11516-018-0005-1
Lucas, M. L., Mariana, R. P., Darío, M., & Sandra, G. (2023). Learning inequality during Covid-19: Evidence from secondary schools in Colombia. International Journal of Educational Development, 100, 102788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102788
Maheshwari, G., & Nayak, R. (2020). Women leadership in Vietnamese higher education institutions: An exploratory study on barriers and enablers for career enhancement. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 50(5), 758–775. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220945700
Minshew, L. M., Lee, D., White, C. Y., McClurg, M., & McLaughlin, J. E. (2021). Development of a cultural intelligence framework in pharmacy education. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 85(9), 934–948. https://doi.org/10.5688/AJPE8580
Monk, G., & Pradhan, S. (2019). Pharmacy schools should be involved in disaster preparedness planning at the local and state levels. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 83(1), 6968. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe6968
Nivet, M. A., Castillo-Page, L., & Schoolcraft Conrad, S. (2016). A diversity and inclusion framework for medical education. Academic Medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 91(7), 1031. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000001120
Northey, G., Bucic, T., Chylinski, M., & Govind, R. (2015). Increasing student engagement using asynchronous learning. Journal of marketing education. 37(3), 171–180. https://doi.org/10.1177/0273475315589814
Pew Research Center. (2016, December 13). Religion and education around the world. Retrieved 10 February 2023, from https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/12/13/religion-and-education-around-the-world/
Prasad-Reddy, L., Fina, P., Kerner, D., & Daisy-Bell, B. (2022). The impact of implicit biases in pharmacy education. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 86(1), 8518. https://doi.org/10.5688%2Fajpe8518
Radhika, D., Terri, W., & Lourdes, G. (2023). Seeking gender equity in pharmacy academia. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 87(3), ajpe9050. https://doi.org/10.5688%2Fajpe9050
Raman, R., Vinuesa, R., & Nedungadi, P. (2021). Acquisition and user behaviour in online science laboratories before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 5(8), 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/MTI5080046
Reinders, S., Dekker, M., & Falisse, J. B. (2021). Inequalities in higher education in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review of the literature. Development Policy Review, 39(5), 865–889. https://doi.org/10.1111/DPR.12535
Rhoney, D. H., Singleton, S., Nelson, N. R., Anderson, S. M., & Hubal, R. (2021). Forces driving change in pharmacy education: Opportunities to take academic, social, technological, economic, and political into the future. Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, 4(5), 639–651. https://doi.org/10.1002/JAC5.1407
Rosa, R., & Clavero, S. (2022). Gender equality in higher education and research. Journal of Gender Studies. 31(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2022.2007446
Sander, W. (1992). The effects of ethnicity and religion on educational attainment. Economics of Education Review, 11(2), 119–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7757(92)90003-L
Schmelkes, S. (2020, January 22). Recognizing and overcoming inequity in education. UN Chronicle. Retrieved 8 February 2023, from https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/recognizing-and-overcoming-inequity-education
Sharma, D., & Bhaskar, S. (2020). Addressing the Covid-19 burden on medical education and training: The role of telemedicine and tele-education during and beyond the pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 589669. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.589669
Sofeso, S. T., Mohebbi, S., Rambaran, L., & Tatarian, A. (2022). Student perspectives on dismantling racial bias in pharmacy school education. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 86(5), 382–385. https://doi.org/10.5688/AJPE8701
UNESCO. (n.d.). World inequality database on education. Retrieved 10 February, 2023, from https://www.education-inequalities.org/
UNICEF. (n.d.). Education in emergencies: Education is a lifeline for children in crises. Retrieved 12 February, 2023, from https://www.unicef.org/education/emergencies
Uzman, N., Selcuk, A., Pehlivanovic, B., Balta, E., Halat, D. H., Etukakpan, A., Masyitah, N., Thompson, C., & Duggan, C. (2022). Enabling positive practice environments for women in science and education with FIPWiSE toolkit. Pharmacy Education, 22(1), 761–770. https://doi.org/10.46542/PE.2022.221.761770
World Health Organisation. (2014, November 8). A universal truth: No health without a workforce. Global Health Workforce Network, Health Workforce UHL. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/hrh_universal_truth