Research of the relationship between educational and professional programs of higher pharmaceutical education in Ukraine with the «Ten-star pharmacist» concept

Abstract

Currently, the training of Masters of Pharmacy (MPh) in Ukraine is based on the competency model as a list of competencies and program learning outcomes according to academic disciplines, which is reflected in the educational and professional programs (EPP) institutions of higher pharmaceutical education (IHPhE). At the same time, MPh, as public trust workers, must have all professional roles (PR) in accordance with of the «ten-star pharmacist» concept. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between general (GC) and professional (PC) competencies of MPh and current PR according to the «ten-star pharmacist» concept. The materials of the study were EPP of twenty-two IHPhE that train masters in the specialty 226 «Pharmacy, industrial pharmacy». Methods of critical analysis, generalization, specification and interpretation of results are used. It was found that the lists of GC and PC differ in the analyzed EPP. It is determined that according to the presence of common GC IHPhE can be divided into three groups, while for PC there are six such groups. Significant differences in the formation of individual PR of future MPh due to acquisition them of different numbers of GC and PC are noted. It is established that in the studied EPP of twenty-two IHPhE for the preparation of masters in the specialty 226 «Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy» there are 15 GC and 35 PC. At the same time, the majority of GC (12 out of 15) and the minority of PC (16 out of 35) of the studied EPP are similar. Significant differences were found in the formation of the PR MPh, in particular, the analyzed GC do not sufficiently reflect PR a life-long-learner (only GC 4 in all groups and GC 15 in group Z). In PC, this picture is typical for PR a decision-maker (only PC 16 in all groups) and a teacher (PC 1 and 2 in all groups). It is shown that the lack of unified compliance of the studied EPP with PC will not contribute to the formation of MPh, adequate to pharmaceutical practice, and their acquisition of the necessary PR in accordance with the «ten-star pharmacist» concept.