SHORT REPORT: Upgrading pharmacy education to produce practice-ready pharmacists in Lebanon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2020.201.379394Keywords:
Post-Graduate Training, Pharmacy Competencies, Pharmacy Education, Developing CountryAbstract
Background: Pharmacy is a steadily evolving profession that brings about changes in practice, where the pharmacist should fulfil novel expanded roles. As such, pharmacy education has to adapt to these local and international changes and follow scientific progress to graduate practice-ready pharmacists. The authors’ objective is to suggest a roadmap with practical solutions to scale-up pharmacy education in Lebanon and produce practice-ready pharmacists with specialised competencies while curbing the number of non-specialised graduates.
Methods: To reach this objective, the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon (OPL) has considered adopting the post-graduate training system to meet the needs of the country, based on scientific and social development.
Results: The Board of the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon agreed on the concept of the post-graduate training system for all pharmacists registering with the OPL. Consequently, the scientific committee at the OPL, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, developed post-graduate competencies and related activities in two parts (general core competencies and advanced specific competencies), to be applied by academia and pharmaceutical institutions. This project would raise the level of the profession, improve readiness to practice in different fields, and indirectly reduce the number of non- specialised pharmacy graduates.
Conclusion: This paper suggests a road map with practical solutions, including core and specialised competencies acquired in post-graduate training and assessed through a licensure examination, to scale-up pharmacy education in Lebanon and produce practice-ready pharmacists. Further work is necessary to explore the applicability of these documents and confirm their validity in different fields of practice.
References
Akhbarak. (2014). Pharmacy Education from 2 to 6 years. Akhbarak News. Available at: http://www.akhbarak.net/news/2014/10/09/5114058/articles/16562303/
Al-Ghananeem, A.M., Malcom, D.R., Shammas, S., & Aburjai, T. (2018). A Call to Action to Transform Pharmacy Education and Practice in the Arab World. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 82(9), 7014. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7014
Alkhateeb, F.M., Arkle, S., McDonough, S.L.K., & Latif, D.A. (2018). Review of National and International Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 82(10), 5980. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe5980
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. (2019). ASHP Policy Positions 2009-2018 (with Rationales): Education and Training. Available at: https://www.ashp.org/-/media/assets/policy-guidelines/docs/policy-positions/policy-positions-education-training.ashx
Atkinson, J., De Paepe, K., Pozo, A.S., Rekkas, D., Volmer, D., Hirvonen, J., et al. (2015). The PHAR-QA Project: Competency Framework for Pharmacy Practice-First Steps, the Results of the European Network Delphi Round 1. Pharmacy (Basel), 3(4), 307-329. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy3040307
Bajis, D., Moles, R., & Chaar, B. (2017). Stakeholders' Perspectives on Quality Assurance in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 82(10), 6482. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe6482
Bourdon, O., Ekeland, C., & Brion, F. (2008). Pharmacy education in France. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 72(6), 132. https://doi.org/10.5688/aj7206132
Bradley, H., Lehmann, U., & Butler, N. (2015). Emerging roles and competencies of district and sub-district pharmacists: a case study from Cape Town. Human Resources for Health, 13, 88. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-015-0081-8
Consortium, M.P.W.R. (2010). Final report of the 2009 national sample survey of the pharmacist workforce to determine contemporary demographic and practice characteristics. Unpublished manuscript. Available at: https://www.aacp.org/sites/default/files/2009_national_pharmacist_workforce_survey_-_final_report.pdf
Domiati, S., Sacre, H., Lahoud, N., Sili, G., & Salameh, P. (2018). Knowledge of and readiness for medication therapy management among community pharmacists in Lebanon. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, 40(5), 1165-1174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-018-0666-0
Hashmi, F.K., Hassali, M.A., Khalid, A., Saleem, F., Aljadhey, H., & Bashaar, M. (2017). A qualitative study exploring perceptions and attitudes of community pharmacists about extended pharmacy services in Lahore, Pakistan. BMC health services research, 17(1), 500. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2442-6
FIP [International Pharmaceutical Federation]. (2017). Research, development and evaluation strategies for pharmaceutical education and the workforce: A global report The Hague: International Pharmaceutical Federation. Available at: https://www.fip.org/file/1385
FIP [International Pharmaceutical Federation]. (2012). Pharmacy Education Taskforce: A Global Competency Framework. Available at: https://www.fip.org/files/fip/PharmacyEducation/GbCF_v1.pdf
Kheir, N., Zaidan, M., Younes, H., El Hajj, M., Wilbur, K., & Jewesson, P.J. (2008). Pharmacy education and practice in 13 Middle Eastern countries. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 72(6), 133. https://doi.org/10.5688/aj7206133
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
Law, A.V., Okamoto, M.P., & Brock, K. (2009). Ready, willing, and able to provide MTM services?: A survey of community pharmacists in the USA. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 5(4), 376-381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2009.01.001
Lee, C.P. (2018). Health Care System and Pharmacy Practice in Hong Kong. The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 71(2), 140-148. https://doi.org/10.4212/cjhp.v71i2.1865
Mason, P. (2000). Pharmacy education in the Netherlands. The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 265 No 7118 p566-567. Available at: https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/pharmacy-education-in-the-netherlands/20003246.article?firstPass=false
Medina, M.S., Plaza, C.M., Stowe, C.D., Robinson, E.T., DeLander, G., Beck, D.E., et al. (2013). Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education 2013 educational outcomes. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 77(8), 162. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe778162
Melo, A.C., Galato, D., Maniero, H.K., Frade, J.C.Q.P., Palhano, T.J., da Silva, W.B., & João, W.d.S.J. (2017). Pharmacy in Brazil: progress and challenges on the road to expanding clinical practice. The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 70(5), 381. https://doi.org/10.4212/cjhp.v70i5.1700
Ministry of Health. (2017). Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements. Ministry of Health, UAE. Available at: https://www.haad.ae/HAAD/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=p0xyTyF4E7s%3d&tabid=927.
Mukhalalati, B., Bader, L., Alhaqan, A., & Bates, I. (2019). Transforming the pharmaceutical workforce in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a call for action. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 26(6), 708 - 712. https://doi.org/10.26719/emhj.19.064
Murphy, J.E. (2015). Practice‐readiness of US pharmacy graduates to provide direct patient care. Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy, 35(12), 1091-1095. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.1667
Murphy, J.E., Nappi, J.M., Bosso, J.A., Saseen, J.J., Hemstreet, B.A., Halloran, M.A., et al. (2006). American College of Clinical Pharmacy's vision of the future: postgraduate pharmacy residency training as a prerequisite for direct patient care practice. Pharmacotherapy, 26(5), 722-733. https://doi.org/10.1592/phco.26.5.722
NAPRA [National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities]. (2017). ANORP (Association nationale des organismes de réglementation de la pharmacie). Professional Competencies for Canadian at Entry to Practice Pharmacists. Available at: http://napra.ca/sites/default/files/2017-08/Comp_for_Cdn_PHARMACISTS_at_EntrytoPractice_March2014_b.pdf
Robinson, D., & Speedie, M. (2015). Is Post-Graduate Training Essential for Practice Readiness? Pharmacotherapy, 35(12). https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.1654
Sacre, H., Hallit, S., Hajj, A., Zeenny, R.M., Akel, M., Raad, E., & Salameh, P. (2020). Developing Core Competencies for Pharmacy Graduates: The Lebanese Experience. J Pharm Pract. https://doi.org/10.1177/0897190020966195
Sacre, H., Hallit, S., Hajj, A., Zeenny, R., Akel, M., Raad, E., & Salameh, P. (2020). For the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists Academic Board. Developing Core Competencies for Pharmacy Graduates: The Lebanese Experience. Research Square, (preprint v1). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.21255/v1+
Saseen, J.J., Ripley, T.L., Bondi, D., Burke, J.M., Cohen, L.J., McBane, S., et al. (2017). ACCP Clinical Pharmacist Competencies. Pharmacotherapy, 37(5), 630-636. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.1923
Sholy, L., & Zeenny, R. (2013). A career exploration assignment for first-year pharmacy students. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 77(9), 195. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe779195
Sumpradit, N., Suttajit, S., Hunnangkul, S., Wisaijohn, T., & Putthasri, W. (2014). Comparison of self-reported professional competency across pharmacy education programs: a survey of Thai pharmacy graduates enrolled in the public service program. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 5, 347-357. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S67391
Syrian Board for Medical Professions. (2018). Training and qualification system for obtaining the Syrian Board Certificate. Available at: http://www.syrianboard.sy/?q=content/
Syrian Ministry of Health. (2018). Ministerial decision 19/T. Available at: http://www.syrianboard.sy/sites/default/files/syrianboard/D19.pdf.
Syrian Ministry of Health. (2018). Ministerial decision 5/T. Available at: http://www.syrianboard.sy/sites/default/files/syrianboard/D5.pdf
Syrian Republic. (2012). Decree number 68. Available at: http://www.syrianboard.sy/?q=content/marsoum.
Taylor, C.T., Adams, A.J., Albert, E.L., Cardello, E.A., Clifford, K., Currie, J.D., et al. (2015). Report of the 2014-2015 Professional Affairs Standing Committee: Producing Practice-Ready Pharmacy Graduates in an Era of Value-Based Health Care. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 79(8), S12. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe798S12
The Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs. (2014). Accreditation Standards for the First Professional Degree in Pharmacy Programs. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: The Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs. Available at: http://ccapp-accredit.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/CCAPP_accred_standards_degree_2014.pdf
Touchette, D.R., Doloresco, F., Suda, K.J., Perez, A., Turner, S., Jalundhwala, Y., et al. (2014). Economic evaluations of clinical pharmacy services: 2006-2010. Pharmacotherapy, 34(8), 771-793. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.1414
Universidad De Chile. (2020). Chemistry and Pharmacy. Available at: http://www.uchile.cl/carreras/4989/quimica-y-farmacia
Zamami, Y., Imai, T., Imanishi, M., Takechi, K., Shiraishi, N., Koyama, T., et al. (2016). Evaluation of pharmaceutical lifesaving skills training oriented pharmaceutical intervention. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences, 2(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40780-016-0054-7
