The pharmacist as a provider of "pharmaceutical care" is examined both as a notion and as a new example for training practitioners. It is concluded that the example will require more from the pharmacist of the future and a reordering of perceptions about the nature of the pharmacy profession. (MSE)

Effectiveness of clinical pharmacy services is discussed through an analysis of the literature, an analysis of the funding of grant applications by the National Center for Health Services Research, and a review of the research component of doctoral programs in pharmacy. (MSE)

A survey of 70 Nebraska pharmacists examined the nature and frequency of ethical problems with patient confidentiality, especially specific contextual features of practice and community life that made maintenance of confidentiality difficult. Differences between rural and urban pharmacists were noted. Implications for pharmaceutical education are…

Pharmaceutical educators are exhorted to bring both science and culture into the profession and to take an active role in the intellectual activity of the university. Improvement of clinical practice, patient-pharmacist relationship, service delivery, and community involvement are seen as contributing to the influence of the profession. (MSE)

The impact of changing health care systems on the content of pharmaceutical education is examined, including the relationship between basic and applied sciences and between the applied sciences and skill and attitude formation, in both academic and clinical education. The role of pharmacy administration in the curriculum is discussed. (MSE)

Key shortcomings in current mainstream strategies of pharmaceutical education include (1) poor integration of basic sciences and clinical curriculum components; (2) curricular information overload and resulting problems; and (3) emphasis on research over teaching and service. Students need to learn teamwork, accountability, positive practice…

A discussion of current changes in optometry looks at the expanding for-profit health sector, changing student characteristics and enrollment patterns, the changing scope of optometric care and technology, and the demise of professionalism and ethics. Implications for pharmaceutical education are considered. (MSE)

A study compared the effectiveness of traditional and computer-simulation methods for teaching pharmacy financial management in continuing education. Retention of material was similar for the groups (n=26 and n=24 students, respectively), and similar amounts of time spent on financial management were found in a followup. Both methods were found…

A survey of 248 University of Kentucky medical school faculty investigated attitudes toward American Medical Association policy concerning gifts from the pharmaceutical industry. Faculty generally agreed with the guidelines but felt gifts did not influence prescribing behaviors. PhD faculty favored more prescriptive policy than did MD faculty.…

At the University of California-San Francisco, a multidisciplinary teaching group from dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social/behavioral sciences leads a multidisciplinary student team in a clinical experience in a nursing home. The program provides specialized experience in geriatric care and encourages teamwork. (MSE)

This study compared personality traits of students in five health professions. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was completed by 1,508 osteopathic students, 654 pharmacy students, 165 physical therapy students, 211 physician assistant students, and 70 occupational therapy students. Comparing the extrovert/introvert dimension revealed that pharmacy…