[Evaluation of the ethics of pharmaceutical practice: A literature review]

Ethics are at the heart of pharmacy practice.

This is a literature review. The main objective is to carry out a review of studies relating on the evaluation of ethics in pharmacy practice. Documentary research on Pubmed was carried out from 1990 to 2020. All studies relating to pharmaceutical ethics that may be applied to the pharmacy practice in pharmacies or in health establishments and that conducted a qualitative or quantitative evaluation of pharmaceutical ethics (e.g. surveying pharmacists or pharmacy students, using a measurement tool, quantifying or qualifying a perception or behaviour) were included.

The studies come mainly from Anglo-Saxon countries (29/38). Studies related to pharmacy practice, mainly target pharmacists (n=27) and pharmacy students (n=16), and more often have a quantitative component of (n=28). The main ethical dilemmas observed dealt with emergency oral contraception (EOC), voluntary termination of pregnancy with drugs, euthanasia, commercial practices of the pharmaceutical industry, refusal to dispense a prescription in a broader context and plagiarism or dishonesty in academic settings.

Few studies have been conducted on the review of ethics of pharmacy practices from 1990 to 2020. Pharmacy students and practicing pharmacists are regularly exposed to ethical dilemmas and respond to these dilemmas with due consideration, taking into account six principles, eight values and other factors. Exposure to these dilemmas creates inaction, stress and distress. A few possible solutions have been identified.