The Development of a New IPE Program for Family Pharmacists

Due to the rapid aging of the population, it has become important to ensure the provision of primary health care services. To respond to this challenge, it will be insufficient to offer services only at medical institutions; indeed, there are extremely high expectations for pharmacists because they work in close contact with the population at drugstores and pharmacies. Moreover, the Japanese government intends to promote family pharmacies (pharmacists) that not only prepare drugs but also give advice on health issues. In this context, pharmacists are expected to play new roles that surpass those in the existing framework, and this will require a new program to facilitate the acquisition of new abilities (skill mix). As an example, we would like to introduce an education program for pharmacists designed to develop clinical reasoning skills for patients' symptoms. To care properly for patients with symptoms and to decide whether to encourage self-medication or to recommend consultation with a doctor, pharmacists need to develop the ability to take a medical history in a systematic and reasonable way, and then to make an adequate assessment. Therefore on the basis of cooperation between doctors and pharmacists, we have developed an education program, as well as a medical interview support tool to assist pharmacists in obtaining necessary and comprehensive medical histories.