Pharmacy education in Saudi Arabia: Achievements and challenges during the last two decades with a focus on Taif University as a case study

Preparedness and barriers to pharmaceutical care among final-year pharmacy students and recent graduates: a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Pharmacy students' preparedness to provide pharmaceutical care (PC) is crucial for ensuring optimal patient outcomes. Understanding their self-assessed readiness across different competency areas and identifying barriers can help identify areas for improvement in pharmacy education.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate pharmacy students' perceptions of their preparedness to provide PC across technical, psychological, communication, administrative, and research domains, as well as the perceived barriers.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 278 final year pharmacy students and recent graduates from various institutions in Saudi Arabia. A modified questionnaire, adapted and refined from a previous study, was tailored to the Saudi Arabian context to align with current educational and professional standards in pharmacy practice.

RESULTS

The majority of the participants were female, aged 24-26, and were predominantly enrolled in the PharmD program. The findings reveal that students generally felt well-prepared in technical, psychological, and communication domains of PC, with median confidence scores of 4 across most skills in these areas. However, they reported moderate confidence in administrative and research skills. Barriers, such as lack of private space for patient counseling and time constraints, were commonly perceived challenges to PC. Females perceived more barriers to providing PC compared to males (p = 0.002). PharmD students reported higher perceived preparedness in technical (p = 0.008), psychological (p = 0.013), and research skills (p = 0.006) compared to B.Pharm students. Additionally, recent graduates felt more prepared in administrative tasks compared to final years students (p = 0.045).

CONCLUSION

Pharmacy students apperceived themselves as moderately prepared for providing PC, with gaps in administrative and research domains. Additionally, overcoming commonly perceived barriers, such as lack of private counseling spaces and time constraints, may further support students in delivering effective PC. To address the moderate confidence in administrative and research skills, pharmacy curricula should integrate targeted, hands-on training through case-based learning, simulations, and research projects.

Evaluation of community pharmacists' knowledge, practice and barriers towards diabetes management in Asir region, Saudi Arabia

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Diabetes mellitus is a global serious health problem that has a clear negative impact on economy. The high prevalence of diabetes worldwide urges for prevention and educational programs. Engagement of community pharmacists in offering various diabetes care services enables delivery of quality of care for patients and could play key role in diabetes management. The current study was designed to assess the knowledge towards diabetes among community pharmacists and to investigate their role in diabetes management through identifying different diabetes care services they provide in Asir region, Saudi Arabia. In addition, possible barriers for providing these services were evaluated.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was performed using an online self-administered anonymous survey that consisted of 4 domains: demographics, knowledge, practice and barriers related to diabetes management.

RESULTS

A total of 258 pharmacists completed the survey, and one-third of respondents (34.5%) demonstrated good knowledge while 42.2% showed moderate knowledge towards diabetes. Respondents of the age group (30-39) years, males, those with bachelor's degree and those with 5 years or less of experience had higher mean knowledge. Nearly half of the participants had positive practice. The most prominent (75%) services offered by the community pharmacists were counselling on the appropriate administration, handling and storage of insulin and the appropriate time to administer oral antidiabetic drugs. Pharmacists who received training had higher mean practice scores. Lack of time, lack of diabetic patients visiting the pharmacy and low patient expectations regarding pharmacists' role in diabetes care were identified as the most important barriers they encountered.

CONCLUSION

Community pharmacists of Asir region exhibited moderate knowledge and practices regarding diabetes management. Our results support the need for national advanced diabetes training programs targeting community pharmacists for providing quality of care services for diabetic patients Moreover, strategies to overcome the reported barriers are indispensable.

Accreditation of pharmacy programs and its impact on SPLE success and pharmacist readiness in Saudi Arabia

Aim

The impact of pharmacy program accreditation on the Saudi Pharmacists Licensure Examination (SPLE) pass rates and overall pharmacist readiness was investigated.

Methods

A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted. Data on SPLE pass rates were obtained from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) 2024 report. Pharmacy colleges were categorized into five groups based on their students' average SPLE scores. Information on the national i.e., the Evaluation and Training Evaluation Center (ETEC) and international i.e., the American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) accreditation status of these colleges was also collected.

Results

Higher average SPLE scores (mean = 563, SE = 43.4) were observed in accredited colleges (either national or international) compared to non-accredited colleges (mean = 533, SE = 33.6), with a significant difference noted [t (22) = -2.149, p = 0.042]. Higher average SPLE scores (mean = 581.8, SE = 18.9) were also found in colleges with multiple accreditations compared to those with fewer or no accreditations (mean = 548.02, SE = 18.9), though this difference was not statistically significant [t (25) = -1.8, p = 0.086].

Discussion and conclusion

It was demonstrated that accreditation, whether national or international, is associated with higher SPLE pass rates, indicating a positive impact on exam performance. National accreditation by ETEC alone was found to be sufficient for improving SPLE scores and ensuring pharmacist readiness, whereas dual or international accreditations did not provide additional benefits in this context.

Malek Z. Enhancing Academic Success: A mixed Study on the Influencing Factors among Pharmacy Students in Syrian Universities

Background

Academic achievement is the result of both effort and perseverance exerted by the students. This mixed-methods study aims to investigate the factors affecting the academic achievement of pharmacy students in Syrian universities.

Methods

A convergent parallel mixed-methods study was utilized. In the quantitative phase, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 1008 students (773 females and 235 males) from 23 Syrian universities. A questionnaire consisting of 48 items was designed to be completed by pharmacy students using a 5-point Likert scale.In the qualitative phase, twelve questions were developed to interview thirty pharmacy students from five Syrian universities to obtain in-depth insights into the factors influencing their academic achievement.

Results

A significant number of students lacked effective time management skills, identified as a weakness among students. The majority of students faced challenges in maintaining a consistent study routine, averaging a score of (2.0).Motivation towards learning emerged as a crucial factor in enhancing academic performance. Lecturers in the pharmacy faculty employed traditional teaching methods (2.01), and the pharmacy curriculum was perceived as lacking modernity (1.92).Quantitative findings demonstrated that pharmacy students experienced exam-related anxiety (2.05), identified as a weakness in the qualitative phase.Factors associated with the Syrian crisis, like unreliable electricity (1.87) and transportation issues (1.83), could have an impact on academic achievement. Economic conditions were identified as challenging to students' academic performance, negatively affecting the learning process (1.98).

Conclusion

The results of the study demonstrate that personal factors, lecturers, educational environment, exams, and the Syrian crisis influence the academic achievement of pharmacy students in Syrian universities.

Closing the loop: Strengthening course quality of Pharm.D. program via applying a comprehensive four-step review approach

This study explores the course review process implemented by the College of Pharmacy at King Saud University for its Pharm.D. program. Through a qualitative research design, a dedicated course review committee was established to oversee the evaluation process. The committee gathered and analyzed data from various sources, including course reports, student evaluations, and exam center reports, to achieve a holistic understanding of each course's effectiveness. The evaluation process was structured into a Four-Step Course Evaluation Approach: data collection, data review and recommendations, taking appropriate action, and communicating the outcomes. The "closing the loop" stage ensured that recommendations were effectively implemented, and course evaluation data were systematically archived for future reference. The results of this study, based on the evaluation of 25 courses, revealed significant improvements in course quality, alignment with program learning outcomes, and adherence to accreditation standards. Key findings included the identification of gaps and discrepancies, leading to targeted interventions and enhanced course content. Overall, this study highlights the effectiveness of a structured course review process in enhancing the quality of education and ensuring continuous improvement within the college. The committee focuses on refining evaluation criteria, conducting workshops, and providing training to stay current with emerging accreditation standards and best practices. This systematic course review process demonstrates the College's commitment to providing high-quality education and preparing students for successful careers in pharmacy, with significant implications for the improvement of pharmacy education and the overall student learning experience.

Patient Safety Culture in the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Survey among Community Pharmacies

Measuring patient safety culture in the community pharmacy can help with identifying areas for development. The current study is a descriptive, cross-sectional, electronic survey conducted among pharmacists working in community pharmacies located in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. The community pharmacy version of the "Pharmacy Survey on Patient Safety Culture" (PSOPSC) was used to collect data. The positive response rate (PRR) was calculated as per the guidance provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Based on the PRR, two least-achieved items (<25%) were taken for further analysis to identify the possible predictors. A sum of 195 pharmacists were included in this study and most of them were working in chain pharmacies. The highest PRRs were observed with teamwork (94.99), and patient counseling (94.13), followed by physical space and environment (93.07). The lowest PRRs were observed with staffing, work pressure, and pace (47.70), followed by communication openness (72.60). Specific characteristics, such as experience and the number of working hours, are significantly related to a poor PRR. The current study results indicate that the scope for improving patient safety exists in various areas of community pharmacies. However, it is necessary to prioritize the need based on a positive response rate.

Clinical Pharmacy Faculty Provision of Direct Patient Care, Challenges, and Opportunities

Background

The quadripartite mission of clinical track faculty members involves research, teaching, services, and direct patient care. However, the extent of faculty involvement in direct patient care remains a challenge. Thus, the study's objective is to evaluate the effort spent on direct patient care by clinical faculty of pharmacy schools in Saudi Arabia (S.A.) and identify factors that hinder or facilitate providing direct patient care services.

Methods

This multi-institutional, cross-sectional questionnaire study conducted between July 2021 and March 2022 involved several pharmacy schools' clinical pharmacy faculty members in S.A. The primary outcome was the percentage of time/effort spent on patient care services and other academic responsibilities. The secondary outcomes were the factors affecting the effort spent on direct patient care and the barriers preventing the provision of clinical services.

Results

A total of 44 faculty members took the survey. The percentage of effort spent on clinical education was highest at a median (IQR) of 37.5 (30, 50), followed by that spent on patient care [19 (10, 28.75)]. The percentages of effort spent on education and the length of academic experience were negatively associated with efforts spent on direct patient care. The most commonly reported barrier affecting fulfilling patient care duties was the lack of a clear practice policy (68%).

Conclusion

Although most clinical pharmacy faculty members were involved in direct patient care, half of them devoted only 20% or less of their time to it. An effective effort allocation for clinical faculty duties will require the development of a clinical faculty workload model that sets realistic expectations about the time spent on clinical and non-clinical duties.

Pharmacists' Knowledge, and Insights in Implementing Pharmacogenomics in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) and personalized medicine embrace the potential to optimize drug treatment and improve the patient's quality of life. Pharmacists' roles include contributing to genetic testing, patient counseling, and pharmacotherapies selection for superior treatment outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess the pharmacists' knowledge, insight, and self-confidence toward PGx testing, identify their future preferred education patterns, and determine the barriers to pharmacogenomic testing implementation.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a previously validated questionnaire among pharmacists working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The questionnaire was designed in seven major categories, consisting of 26 questions.

RESULTS

A total of 671 pharmacists participated in this survey. As for knowledge, only 29.8% of pharmacists had good knowledge regarding PGx, while 42.9% had poor knowledge levels. Respectable PGx knowledge was significantly higher among outpatient dispensing pharmacists (33.6%; p = 0.049) and among pharmacists who had completed PGx testing-related training or education (40.3%; p = 0.001). Considering perception, it was positive among 50% of pharmacists and negative among 19.8%. With regard to self-confidence, it was high among 39.2% of male pharmacists (p = 0.042), among 43% of clinical pharmacists (p = 0.006), and among 44.8% of pharmacists who had extra credentials (p = 0.001). The utmost favored continuing-education learning approaches were workshops or seminars. The barriers to the implementation of PGx testing included a lack of testing devices, clinical guidelines, training or education, and personnel.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed that pharmacists in KSA had inadequate knowledge and understanding of PGx. Nevertheless, the majority established that PGx is a valuable tool for augmenting drug efficacy and safety.

Academic Help-Seeking Behaviours of Undergraduate Pharmacy Students in Saudi Arabia: Usage and Helpfulness of Resources

Background: University students usually find it difficult to handle academic challenges by themselves and tend to seek help. Academic help seeking is defined as “a behavioral strategy that involves controlling one’s behavior and interacting socially to obtain help from other people.” Methods: A cross-sectional design was planned. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on academic help-seeking behaviours among year 5 undergraduate pharmacy students. Demographic and background information was described in terms of frequency. Their reasons for seeking academic help (five items) and factors considered for choosing academic resources (six items) used a Likert scale ranging from one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree). Usefulness (ten items) was rated on a five-point scale ranging from ‘very useful’ to ‘not useful at all.’ Frequency (ten items) was rated on a five-point scale ranging from ‘never’ to ‘every day.’ Results: A total of 116 pharmacy students completed the survey. The study indicated that the key reasons for seeking help were positive factors—a further improvement of one’s learning and the desire to complete a course. The resources that were most frequently used were peers, the course online portal, and online educational resources. The resources that students found most helpful were peers, the course instructor, textbooks, and online resources. Discussion and conclusion: The frequency of using a certain support resource was not mirrored by its helpfulness. Resources, including professors, teaching assistants, and textbooks, were found helpful but not frequently consulted for help. On the other hand, summaries and notes, for example, were frequently used but not particularly helpful. However, peers currently taking the course and the course management system were found to be very useful and frequently used.