Pharmacy最新文献

{"title":"Self-Perception of High School Preparation and Readiness for Pharmacy Education.","authors":"Shantanu Rao, Kimberly A Pesaturo, Jennifer Grundey, Timothy Burkart, Devyn Warnement","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy14030080","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy14030080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The rigor of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curricula is reflected in its math- and science-heavy prerequisite requirements. As such, it is critical to evaluate whether students perceive high school coursework and experiences as adequate preparation for PharmD programs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Pre-professional and professional PharmD students from three institutions completed a survey assessing satisfaction with high school preparation, including math and science education, skill development, and exposure to pharmacy-related experiences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 148 responses were analyzed; 72% identified as female and 81% as White (non-Hispanic/Latino). Most respondents reported satisfaction with their high school math (80.4%) and science (82.4%) education, and 73.7% felt academically prepared for pharmacy school. Additionally, 79.8% were satisfied with skills gained in high school. Experiences such as attending pharmacy-related events (81.1%), contact with healthcare professionals (87.8%), and prior employment (85.2%) were widely viewed as beneficial. Students highlighted communication, problem-solving, and time management as key skills developed. However, gaps were noted in study strategies, presentation abilities, and time management.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Students generally felt well-prepared academically and skill-wise for PharmD programs. Expanding pharmacy-related exposure and targeted skill development opportunities in high school may further enhance readiness for future pharmacy students.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13307450/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Willingness, Self-Perceived Barriers, and Practices of Pharmacists Toward Extended Pharmacy Services for Health Promotion: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Karachi, Pakistan.","authors":"Sadia Shakeel, Hina Rehman, Shagufta Nesar, Muskan Bhutto, Imran Ahsan Mallick, Márió Gajdács, Shazia Jamshed","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy14030079","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy14030079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Health promotion (HPr) is increasingly recognized as an essential component of modern pharmacy practice. In developing countries like Pakistan, pharmacists' roles are evolving from traditional dispensing toward extended pharmacy services (EPS). This study evaluated the willingness, knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers of pharmacists in Karachi, Pakistan, regarding the provision of HPr-focused EPS. <b>Methods</b>: An online, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted between October 2024 and April 2025, using a 32-item questionnaire. Purposive and snowball sampling were employed to recruit pharmacists, including interns and fresh graduates. Descriptive and inferential statistics (χ², Fisher's exact and Welch's <i>t</i>-tests) were used for data analysis. <b>Results</b>: Of <i>N</i> = 389 respondents (mean age 29.8 ± 4.8 years), 85.1% expressed willingness to provide HPr services. A majority of respondents (72.7% and 70.4%, respectively) felt they possessed sufficient knowledge for HPr and for identifying lifestyle-related risks, while more experienced pharmacists (>1 year) reported higher confidence (<i>p</i> < 0.001 and <i>p</i> = 0.043). Positive attitudes toward public health involvement were high (82.3%), particularly among females (<i>p</i> < 0.001), younger pharmacists and fresh graduates (<i>p</i> = 0.019 and <i>p</i> = 0.010). However, only 39.1% believed they had sufficient time for patient education. Practicing pharmacists (<i>n</i> = 114) were most frequently involved in dietary advice (4.38 ± 0.89) and medication safety education (4.36 ± 0.97), while family planning counseling (2.92 ± 1.36) was the least commonly reported activity. Leading barriers identified via word cloud analysis included lack of time (<i>n</i> = 101), perceived lack of necessary skills (<i>n</i> = 96), insufficient resources (<i>n</i> = 91), limited technology access (<i>n</i> = 89), and lack of specific protocols (<i>n</i> = 84). <b>Conclusions</b>: Pakistani pharmacists demonstrate high professional willingness to engage in HPr-focused EPS. However, systemic barriers-primarily time constraints and a lack of supportive infrastructure-impede the full integration of these services into routine practice. Policy interventions, standardized protocols, and reimbursement models are necessary to leverage pharmacists' potential in primary healthcare.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13306817/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implementation and Clinical Impact of a Structured Clinical Pharmacy Service for Hospitalized Ileostomy Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study Using the RE-AIM Framework.","authors":"Stefanie Hehenberger, Irene Lagoja","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy14030078","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy14030078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Patients with ileostomy face unique pharmacotherapeutic challenges, including altered drug absorption, yet structured pharmaceutical care for this population is rarely integrated into routine clinical practice. This retrospective monocentric cohort study evaluated the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of a structured ileostomy-specific clinical pharmacy service using the implementation science-based RE-AIM framework at a 1245-bed teaching hospital in Vienna, Austria. Sixty-two patients (54.8% male; median age of 65.5 years) were included, receiving a median of 11 medications. A total of 324 drug-related problems (DRPs) were identified, of which 202 (62.3%) were classified as stoma-specific drug-related problems (SDRPs), representing a predefined subgroup of DRPs associated with ileostomy-related pharmacotherapy challenges. This distinction enabled separate evaluation of the clinical relevance of stoma-specific pharmaceutical interventions. The implementation rate was significantly higher for SDRP-related interventions than for general DRP recommendations (92.0% vs. 63.9%; <i>p</i> < 0.001), with no significant interdepartmental differences observed in either DRPs (<i>p</i> = 0.137) or SDRPs (<i>p</i> = 0.071). Patients with high-output stoma (HOS) had significantly more SDRPs than those without (<i>p</i> < 0.001), while no differences were observed in general DRPs. The service demonstrated wide adoption, high interprofessional acceptance, full protocol fidelity, and continuous implementation over 30 months. The findings provide implementation evidence that may support healthcare decision-makers, hospital administrators, and policy stakeholders in establishing and sustaining structured clinical pharmacy services for ileostomy patients in Austria and similar healthcare settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13306839/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Digital-Assisted Community Pharmacy Cessation for Dual-Tobacco Users in Jordan: A Hybrid Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Derar H Abdel-Qader, Nadia Al Mazrouei, Esra' Taybeh, Rana Ibrahim, Abdullah Albassam, Eman Massad, Alia Saleh, Sahar Jaradat, Shorouq Al-Omoush","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy14030077","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy14030077","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tobacco use remains a major public health challenge in Jordan, where cigarette smoking and waterpipe use are both common and dual use is increasingly prevalent. Community pharmacies are highly accessible healthcare settings, yet structured smoking-cessation services remain underutilized. This study evaluated the clinical effectiveness and implementation of Dual-Quit Digital, a pharmacist-delivered cessation counseling program tailored to the type of tobacco used, paired with a 6-month automated WhatsApp&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; (Menlo Park, CA, USA) follow-up system. We conducted a pragmatic, two-arm, parallel-group, Hybrid Type 2 cluster randomized controlled trial in 16 community pharmacies in Jordan, randomized 1:1 to intervention or usual care. A total of 320 adult tobacco users were enrolled (160 per arm). The intervention combined a structured in-pharmacy pharmacist consultation, tailored behavioral support, phenotype-stratified pharmacotherapy support, and 6 months of semi-automated WhatsApp&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; follow-up with telepharmacy escalation for predefined red-flag responses. The control arm received usual care, consisting of opportunistic brief advice and standard over-the-counter sales without proactive follow-up. The primary outcome was biochemically verified continuous abstinence at 6 months, defined as exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) &lt; 10 ppm and analyzed using intention-to-treat principles. Secondary outcomes included 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 3 and 6 months, 30-day PPA at 6 months, both-product abstinence among baseline dual users, pharmacotherapy uptake and adherence, and implementation-relevant outcomes, including service reach, feasibility of recruitment, and digital engagement metrics. All 16 pharmacies were retained, and all 320 randomized participants were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. At 6 months, CO-verified continuous abstinence was achieved by 26.3% of participants in the intervention arm compared with 11.3% in the control arm (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.84, 95% CI 1.55-5.18; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). The intervention also improved 7-day PPA at 3 months (33.1% vs. 15.6%; aOR 2.68, 95% CI 1.56-4.60; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), 7-day PPA at 6 months (30.6% vs. 14.4%; aOR 2.62, 95% CI 1.48-4.62; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.001), and 30-day PPA at 6 months (28.1% vs. 11.9%; aOR 2.89, 95% CI 1.59-5.24; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). Among baseline dual users, both-product abstinence was higher in the intervention arm (21.9% vs. 7.8%; aOR 3.30, 95% CI 1.12-9.75; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.026). Pharmacotherapy initiation was more frequent in the intervention arm (72.5% vs. 28.1%; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), as was self-reported adherence for at least 8 weeks among initiators (56.0% vs. 26.7%; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.002). In the intervention arm, active patient response rates to scheduled WhatsApp&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; messages remained substantial, with 88.1% responding at Week 1, 73.8% at Week 4, 67.5% at Month 3, and 61.3% at Month 6; 145 red-flag triggers were captured from 62 participan","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13214694/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Pharmacy Education: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Mirey Alfarah, Ivy Kan, Marie A Vander Kloet","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy14030076","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy14030076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Preparing pharmacists to serve diverse populations requires a meaningful integration of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) within pharmacy education, yet such integration remains uneven and insufficiently understood. This scoping review aimed to examine how EDIA is addressed across faculty development, curriculum content, and teaching strategies in pharmacy education. Following the guidance of the Joanna Briggs Institute, we searched six databases (Embase, Medline, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, ERIC, and Web of Science) for studies published between 2014 and 2025. After screening 3031 records, 86 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies focused on curriculum (48/86) and teaching strategies (35/86), while very few examined faculty development (3/86). Research was heavily concentrated in the United States of America and relied predominantly on survey-based methods. EDIA topics were often addressed in isolation with a strong emphasis on intercultural communication and limited attention to areas such as disability, migration, and socioeconomic status. Intersectional approaches were rare. Overall, EDIA in pharmacy education appears fragmented and commonly implemented as standalone initiatives rather than integrated across programs. These findings highlight important gaps in faculty development in pharmacy education, methodological diversity, and global representation, and they point to persistent structural gaps and the need to strengthen faculty development initiatives specific to pharmacy education and to move beyond isolated initiatives toward a sustained, program-level integration of EDIA.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13214706/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Entrustable Professional Activities for Pharmacists Carrying Out Medication Management Reviews.","authors":"Carmen Abeyaratne, Nadine Fawal, Kirsten Galbraith","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy14030075","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy14030075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of previously validated Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for pharmacists carrying out medication management reviews (MMRs) and further align them with nationally accepted performance outcomes (POs). This was a two-phase study involving Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs). Phase 1 aimed at assessing the relevance of 14 EPAs previously validated for use in a provisionally registered pharmacist training programme to the role of MMR pharmacists utilising a five-point Likert scale. A 70% threshold for \"agree\" and \"strongly agree\" was used to qualify an EPA for phase 2. During phase 2, EPAs were mapped for their ability to demonstrate APC performance outcomes for MMRs and the results were descriptively reported. Of the eight SMEs recruited, seven completed both surveys. Of the 14 EPAs, 12 qualified for phase 2. In phase 2, the 12 EPAs were mapped against 24 POs. Five EPAs were matched with 100% agreement to six POs. To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to map pre-validated EPAs to POs for credentialing in the scope of MMR pharmacists in Australia. A total of 12 EPAs were applicable to pharmacists working in the MMR space, and five were able to be directly mapped to six POs.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13214893/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recognizing and Mitigating the Effects of Medication on Heat-Related Illness in Older Adults: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Lily M Tews, Daniel T Abazia, Hayley Blackburn, Kiri Carmody, Mary Barna Bridgeman","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy14030074","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy14030074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heat waves have intensified since the 1960s, leaving older adults uniquely susceptible to heat-related illnesses, including hyperthermia and fluid-electrolyte imbalances. While clinicians recognize that certain medications increase heat vulnerability, the specific interplay between drug use and patient characteristics remains unclear. This scoping review, following the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, investigated the risk of heat-related illness associated with medication use in older adults to identify research gaps. Investigators queried four databases for English-language primary literature (2000-2025) based on predefined Population, Concept, and Context criteria. Additionally, a grey literature search mapped existing United States (U.S.) mitigation strategies. Two reviewers independently screened studies via Covidence, and one extracted data. Results included 61 primary studies and 41 grey literature sources. While epidemiological data confirm higher heat-related morbidity and mortality in older populations, few experimental studies evaluate medication's specific role. Despite many public health efforts, specific, evidence-based guidance on managing drug-heat interactions is limited. Diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), anticholinergics, and antipsychotics were the medication classes most frequently associated with heat-related illness. This review underscores a critical need for research into the confluence of age, multimorbidity, and polypharmacy to inform future clinical mitigation and protect vulnerable populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13214780/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Professional Fulfilment in Pharmacy: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Pharmacists in 17 European Countries.","authors":"Katarina Fehir Šola, Slaven Falamić, Maja Ortner Hadžiabdić, Piotr Merks","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy14030073","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy14030073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Pharmacists play an essential role in healthcare delivery across Europe, yet growing professional demands, organisational constraints, and evolving practice models may negatively affect job satisfaction and professional fulfilment. This study aimed to evaluate job satisfaction and professional perception among pharmacists across multiple European countries and to identify sociodemographic and workplace-related factors associated with these outcomes. <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted between October 2023 and January 2024 among licensed pharmacists from 17 European countries. Eligible participants were pharmacists employed in community pharmacies, hospitals, clinical pharmacy services, or the pharmaceutical industry. The questionnaire, developed and administered in English, collected sociodemographic and professional data and included two composite measures: the Job Satisfaction Scale (12 items) and the Pharmacist Professional Perception Scale (6 items). Responses were recorded using 5-point Likert scales. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses were performed using SPSS version 27.0. <b>Results</b>: A total of 789 pharmacists participated (median age 40 years; 80.1% female). The mean job satisfaction score was 3.26 (SD 0.88), with the lowest scores related to staffing adequacy and salary, and the highest to collegial relationships. The mean professional perception score was 3.08 (SD 0.81), indicating moderate perceived professional recognition. Significant associations were identified between both scales and workplace setting, income level, employment status, geographical region, education, and professional experience (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions</b>: In this multi-country convenience sample, pharmacists reported moderate levels of job satisfaction and professional perception, with variation across workplace and sociodemographic factors. These findings should be interpreted cautiously, as the sample is not representative of all European pharmacists; however, they suggest that staffing conditions, remuneration, professional recognition, and career development opportunities may be relevant areas for further investigation and policy attention.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13214750/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating Drug Repurposing into EU Health Crisis Preparedness: The Strategic Role of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).","authors":"Atanas Toshev, Stanislav Gueorguiev, Anna Mihaylova, Violeta Getova-Kolarova, Vasil Madzharov, Dimitar Mirchev, Elina Petkova-Gueorguieva","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy14030072","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy14030072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities in the European Union's health security architecture and highlighted the need for stronger coordination mechanisms for managing cross-border health threats. In response, the European Union established the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) as a central body responsible for strengthening preparedness, coordinating procurement, and supporting the development and availability of medical countermeasures. This study examines the potential role of drug repurposing as a strategic tool within the evolving EU health crisis preparedness framework. A narrative literature review and policy analysis were conducted using scientific publications indexed in PubMed and Scopus, as well as institutional and regulatory documents from the European Commission, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and other relevant organisations. The findings indicate that drug repurposing offers important advantages during health emergencies, including shorter development timelines, lower research costs, and the possibility of leveraging existing manufacturing and regulatory infrastructures. At the same time, several challenges remain, particularly regarding regulatory coordination, intellectual property considerations, and the scalability of pharmaceutical production during periods of increased demand. The analysis suggests that drug repurposing could evolve from an ad hoc response mechanism into a more institutionalised component of EU health crisis preparedness. Integrating repurposing strategies into HERA's threat prioritisation, regulatory coordination, and industrial preparedness mechanisms may significantly enhance the European Union's ability to respond rapidly and effectively to future health emergencies.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13214920/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Self-Care Consultation Skills in Pharmacy Education: Benefits of Virtual Patients and Artificial Intelligence-A Scoping Review.","authors":"Radiana Staynova, Daniela Kafalova, Evelina Gavazova, Katerina Slavcheva, Nelina Neycheva, Adelina Boyanova, Desislava Andonova, Hristina Stoynova","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy14030071","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy14030071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Virtual patients (VPs) and artificial intelligence (AI) are being implemented in pharmacy education across various countries in order to learn different techniques to improve communication skills, identify drug-related problems, assess the pharmacist's role in the self-medication process or assess students' knowledge acquisition. The objective of this study was to assess the benefits of integrating VPs and AI in pharmacy education, particularly their impact on pharmacy students' knowledge and skills in self-medication counselling. A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Studies focused on the integration of VPs and AI tools in pharmacy education and their impact on students' knowledge, counselling and communication skills related to self-medication, were evaluated. Eligible studies were full-text, peer-reviewed research articles published in English. No restrictions were applied regarding publication year. A total of 857 articles were identified through electronic databases and 9 met the inclusion criteria. Six studies were conducted in the USA and one each in Portugal, Sweden and Indonesia. Most studies employed a pre-post-study design. Six studies utilized VP simulations, while the remaining three implemented AI-based tools. Key outcomes covered in analyzed articles included improvements in knowledge score, communication, and consultation skills, along with positive perceptions, including increased student satisfaction and confidence levels. Using VP simulations and AI tools in pharmacy education could positively impact students by enhancing their knowledge as well as their confidence and counselling skills.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13214858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}