[Introduction and Evaluation of an Integrated Program to Develop Pharmacotherapeutic Management Skills]

Pharmacists must be able to select and collect important information for patient care, to accurately assess and monitor the status of patients, to develop care plans, propose optimal formulations, and provide advice to patients about pharmacotherapy. The core curriculum of Japan's pharmacy education model was revised in 2013 based on the "Basic competencies required of a pharmacist" that should be developed by the time of a student's graduation. Specific behavioral objectives to be acquired include competency in "The ability to implement pharmacotherapeutic management", which involves gaining the ability to understand patient information, to design and propose prescriptions, and to conduct pharmacotherapeutic assessments. We thus introduced an integrated program for fifth-year students at Hokkaido Pharmaceutical University using problem-based learning and role-playing with simulated patients to teach clinical communication skills and the ability to design pharmaceutical care plans for patients. A survey of students who completed the program after pharmacy practical training revealed that most of them realized the value of the program: they were able to develop precise care plans for medical problems and learned good communication skills to collect information about patients.