A Taiwanese pharmacy graduate-oriented questionnaire reveals higher confidence and self-evaluation in Pharm.D. graduates
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2023.231.769779Keywords:
Doctor of pharmacy, Pharmacy education, Pharmacy education reformation, Six-year pharmacy programme, Taiwan pharmacy educationAbstract
Background: Pharmacy education reform in Taiwan began with the publication of a White Paper on Pharmacy Education in Taiwan (WPPET), leading to the introduction of six-year Pharm.D. programme in local schools. However, there's still diversity in educational goals among domestic pharmacy schools, and education recipients' perspectives are unreported.
Methods: An education receivers-oriented, web-based questionnaire was employed to assess self-evaluated confidence and competency in pharmacy practice, adherence to WPPET, and opinions on pharmacy education reform, as well as the ideal pharmacy education.
Results: A total of 458 responses were valid and included in the final analysis. Pharm.D. graduates showcased higher levels of confidence, self-evaluated competency, and overall satisfaction with their education compared to B. Pharm graduates. The direction for pharmacy education reform centred on course integration and advanced competency accreditation. Most respondents favoured retaining the national license test and introducing a new B. Pharm-based programme with choices for advanced capstone courses.
Conclusion: This study implies the successful Pharm.D. programmes implementation aligned with WPPET. Future research should focus on course integration and advanced competency accreditation. A flexible, localised system providing diverse education options for recipients appears to be the most favourable.
References
Alrasheedy, A. A., Ibrahim, M. H., Alsahali, S., Alfadly, S. O., Siddeeg, K., Salah, G. B., Kassem, L. M., & Alsaikhan, R. (2022). Current state of career placement and employment opportunities for Doctor of Pharmacy graduates: A cross-sectional analysis from a college of pharmacy, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 30(10), 1479–1485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2022.07.010
Ball, H. L. (2019). Conducting Online Surveys. Journal of Human Lactation, 35(3), 413–417. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334419848734
Beleh, M., Engels, M., & Garcia, G. (2015). Integrating a new medicinal chemistry and pharmacology course sequence into the Pharm.D. curriculum. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 79(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe79113
Chaiyakunapruk, N., Jones, S. M., Dhippayom, T., & Sumpradit, N. (2016). Pharmacy practice in Thailand. In A. I. Fathelrahman, M. I. M. Ibrahim, & A. I. Wertheimer (Ed.), Pharmacy practice in developing countries: Achievements and challenges (1st ed., pp. 3-22). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801714-2.00001-0
Chanakit, T., Low, B. Y., Wongpoowarak, P., Moolasarn, S., & Anderson, C. (2015). Does a transition in education equate to a transition in practice? Thai stakeholder’s perceptions of the introduction of the Doctor of Pharmacy programme. BMC Medical Education, 15(1), 205. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-015-0473-4
Guh, J. H. , Shen, L. J., Chern, J. H., Lin Wu. F. L., Ho, Y. F. (2016). Implementation of 6-Year pharmacy program in Taiwan. Formosan Journal of Medicine, 20(1), 27–32. https://doi.org/10.6320/FJM.2016.20(1).4
Heavner, M. S., Tichy, E. M., & Yazdi, M. (2016). Implementation of a pharmacist career ladder program. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 73(19), 1524–1530. https://doi.org/10.2146/ajhp150615
Inoue, K. (2007). Accreditation of pharmacy education in Japan. Yakugaku Zasshi: Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, 127(6), 953–972. https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.127.953
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). (2012). FIP Education initiatives: Pharmacy education taskforce - A global competency framework. The Hague: International Pharmaceutical Federation. https://www.fip.org/file/1412
Irby, D. M., Cooke, M., & OʼBrien, B. C. (2010). Calls for reform of medical education by the Carnegie Foundation for the advancement of teaching: 1910 and 2010: Academic Medicine, 85(2), 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181c88449
Islam, M. A., Talukder, R. M., Taheri, R., & Blanchard, N. (2016). Integration of basic and clinical science courses in US Pharm.D. programs. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 80(10), 166. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8010166
Jacobi, J. (2016). Clinical pharmacists: Practitioners who are essential members of your clinical team. Revista Médica Clínica Las Condes, 27(5), 571–577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmclc.2016.09.002
Knoer, S. J., Eck, A. R., & Lucas, A. J. (2016). A review of American pharmacy: Education, training, technology, and practice. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences, 2, 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40780-016-0066-3
Li, J. H., Feng, L. Y., Lee, K. H., Lee, S. S., Wu, C. H., Huang, Y. B., Tarn, Y. H., Huang, H. S., Lin, H. W., & Fang, Y. P. (2018). The core issues and future of pharmacy education: An approach to the reform of pharmacy education in Taiwan (III). The Journal of Taiwan Pharmacy, 34(4), 149–157. http://jtp.taiwan-pharma.org.tw/137/026.html
Lin Wu, F. L., Hsu, K. Y., Chiueh C. C., Lee A. R., Gean P. W., Kao Yang, Y. H., Tsai, Y. H., Chang, C. H., Wei, D. C., Chern, J. W. (2006). White paper on pharmacy education in Taiwan 2005. Journal of Medical Education, 10(3), 165-85. https://doi.org/10.6145/jme.200609_10(3).0001
Lin, Y. Y. (2012). Evolution of Pharm.D. education and patient service in the USA. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, 4(4), 227–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecm.2012.06.012
Pearson, M. L., & Hubball, H. T. (2012). Curricular integration in pharmacy education. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 76(10), 204. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7610204
Supapaan, T., Low, B. Y., Wongpoowarak, P., Moolasarn, S., & Anderson, C. (2019). A transition from the BPharm to the Pharm.D. degree in five selected countries. Pharmacy Practice, 17(3), 1611. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2019.3.1611
Suttajit, S., Suwannaprom, P., Supapaan, T., Eakanunkul, S., Tangkiatkumjai, M., Kongkaew, C., Anderson, C., & Wongpoowarak, P. (2018). Are we on the right track? Answers from a national survey of Thai graduates’ perceptions during the transition to the 6-year Pharm.D. program. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 9, 713–722. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S173014
Waddell, J. J., Hale, A. R., & Nissen, L. M. (2016). Advanced pharmacy practice and leadership. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 12(4), 662–663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2016.02.004
Yang, E., Shin, T. J., Kim, S., Go, Y., Lee, S., Yang, E., Shin, T. J., Kim, S., Go, Y., & Lee, S. (2005). The pedagogical validity for a six years curriculum in pharmacy education. Korean Journal of Medical Education, 17(3), 225–238. https://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2005.17.3.22