Reflection
The definition of endeavor is "to exert oneself to do or effect something; make an effort; strive." I chose to include endeavor in the title of my blog as it embodies the desire I have to continue to learn more about the practice of pharmacy in other countries and how I am continuously exposing myself to situations which allow me to grow both as a student and as a person.
The last time I had an international pharmacy educational experience, I found it helpful to document some of the questions I had about pharmacy practice in another country and the goals I wanted to achieve by participating in this experience. Many of the questions I had then apply once again as this is a new country with unique views on pharmacy and pharmacy practice. However, due to my site placement, I have several different questions as well.
The last time I had an international pharmacy educational experience, I found it helpful to document some of the questions I had about pharmacy practice in another country and the goals I wanted to achieve by participating in this experience. Many of the questions I had then apply once again as this is a new country with unique views on pharmacy and pharmacy practice. However, due to my site placement, I have several different questions as well.
General Questions
- What is the role of a pharmacist?
- What are pharmacists' primary responsibilities?
- How do other healthcare providers (physicians, nurses) view pharmacists?
- What different types of pharmacy are available for practice (ex. community, industry, clinical)?
- Is pharmacy a respected profession in the community?
- What is the pharmacist-patient relationship like?
- What is the process of obtaining and filling a prescription?/How are medications available (ex. unit dose, OTC)?
- How do over-the-counter products in the United States compare to over-the-counter products in Portugal?
- What is the education requirement to become a pharmacist (including types of class taken and degrees required)?/What are the licensure requirements (including cost, examinations, transferrable to other countries)?
- About how many pharmacies and pharmacists are in Portugal?
- Do pharmacists counsel patients about their medications?
- What are the top five medications dispensed by pharmacists in the community? In the hospital?
- What are the top five disease states seen in the community? In the hospital?
- How is the healthcare system structured?
- Is there healthcare insurance?/Who pays for it (private, public, or both)?/What does it cover versus what is paid out of pocket?
- What happens if someone cannot afford the healthcare they require?/Which individuals are the most vulnerable?
- How many hospitals are in Portugal (private and public)?
- Is there a difference in healthcare between various cities, regions, etc.?
- What types of precautions are taken to control the spread of infection?
- How often do people go to the doctor, receive a physical, or obtain medical treatment?
Questions Specific To My Site Placement
- Which pharmaceutical companies have a stake in the Portuguese market?
- How do the pharmaceutical companies impact the research that is being performed?
- What types of pharmaceutical products are being highly researched in Portugal?
- What new and innovative drug delivery systems are being researched?
- Where does the funding come from for pharmaceutical research?
- Are patients that participate in research protocols compensated for their time/efforts?
- How accessible are research medications to the general public?
- What sorts of technology exist in the laboratory practice setting?
- How do research protocols compare to those used in the United States?
- Who regulates pharmaceutical research in Portugal?/Who regulates pharmaceutical advertising in Portugal?
- What type of studies are mainly performed in Portugal (randomized control trials, retrospective, case-control, etc.)?
- How does the drug development process compare to that of the United States?
- Is research completed in Portugal frequently generalizable to other ethnicities/populations?
- How popular is industry/research as a pharmacists' career path?
- What motivates pharmacists to choose this as their career?
- How many hours do research pharmacists work per week?
- Do pharmacists have high job satisfaction?
- What is a ballpark salary for a pharmacist?/Do pharmacists have to work multiple jobs to have an adequate salary?
- What background is required for a professor of pharmacy curriculum?
- Do all/most pharmacy professors have other obligations such as research, community service, clinical responsibilities, etc.?
Goals
The overarching goal of my experience is to continue comparing pharmacy and healthcare practices in the United States to foreign countries.
- Gain a sense of pharmacy in Portugal
- Learn about the healthcare system and how it functions
- Become aware of the educational path taken to become a pharmacist and the career opportunities available
- Discover what influences pharmaceutical research/practices
- Attain a better understanding of the drug development process
- Enhance my knowledge concerning alternative forms of drug delivery
- Experience global healthcare and pharmacy exposing myself to new ideas and ways of thinking
"A mind that is stretched by new experiences can never go back to its old dimensions."
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.