The academic formation challenges: what does retail expect from higher education institutions in pharmacy?

BACKGROUND: The drug retail represents the main area of activity for pharmacists worldwide. In Brazil, this sector is responsible for employing around 80% of professionals. Before this reality, the academic training of pharmacists requires specialized skills and knowledge so they can fulfill their tasks. In this sector, considering the influence of managers and mentors on the model of pharmaceutical practice, their perceptions about the demands of the market can help discussions related to the training of pharmacists. AIM: To analyze the academic training of pharmacists for the drug retail market from the perspective of managers and mentors. METHOD: This is a qualitative study conducted with managers and mentors of the drug retail market. A semi-structured interview guide was prepared and applied to the intentionally selected participants. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under the number 4,169,752. The interviews were conducted through videoconference by an experienced researcher. The data obtained were analyzed using Bardin's analysis technique, following the steps of categorical thematic content analysis using the ATLAS.ti software. RESULTS: 19 interviews were carried out. Among the reports, the interviewees highlighted the importance of retail in the employability of pharmacists, as well as inconsistency in the academic training for this sector, originating the following categories: curriculum reform to include the market demands, follow-up and career plan, training for entrepreneurship and sales, practical application of knowledge, and encouragement of experience. CONCLUSION: Pharmaceutical academic training is linked to several challenges, whether organizational, structural, or budgetary. To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to unite the interested parties in the formulation and implementation of a strategy for the professionalization of pharmacists, considering their social role in patient care, aligned with the company's sustainability, so that both coexist.

"Reigns but does not govern": A reflection on professionalism and the autonomy of the pharmacist.

INTRODUCTION: In recent decades, the professionalization of pharmacy has been debated worldwide. With the advent of industrialization, pharmacist autonomy has weakened, especially in the retail pharmacy market. Manegers and mentors of pharmacy chains serve as links between the profession and drug users. This study sought to understand the perceptions of retail pharmacy stakeholders regarding pharmacist autonomy and how to improve it, and to reflect on theories of professionalism. METHOD: 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed through analyst triangulation and categorical content analysis, using the ATLAS.ti software. RESULTS: Interviews were conducted with nine mentors and ten managers in retail medicine. They reported aspects related to managerial and technical autonomy regulated by law, and strategies for enhancing professional autonomy in retail pharmacy. Autonomy was considered limited by pharmacists' dependence on employability and self-devaluation; and market control exposed the weaknesses in pharmaceutical professionalism. Entrepreneurship and ownership attitude strategies were feasible only in a retail micro-political context. CONCLUSION: The retail medicine continues to have business model centered on the product and controlling the pharmaceutical practice model. To ensure autonomy and professional strengthening, it is necessary that pharmacy recognizes itself as a clinical profession and develops a stable professional identity.

ASSOCIATED FACTORS THE RETENTION AND INTENTIONALITY OF EVASION IN PHARMACY COURSES OF A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY OF NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL / FATORES ASSOCIADOS A RETENÇÃO E INTENCIONALIDADE DE EVASÃO NOS CURSOS DE FARMÁCIA DE UMA UNIVERSIDADE PÚBLICA DO NORDESTE BRASILEIRO

The study aimed to evaluate possible factors associated with retention and intentionality of avoidance of the Pharmacy course of a Public University of the Northeast. This is a cross-sectional study conducted between July and December 2019 with students from the two undergraduate courses in Pharmacy, from the Federal University of Sergipe. For data collection, an instrument was used that included: 1) Sociodemographic data and; 2) Factors related to the intentionality of evasion, questions about locking, and failure in modules/disciplines. The study participated in 335 students, 132 from the Lagarto campus and 203 students from São Cristóvão. Of these, 69.30% (n=232) were women, the majority (81.20%) aged between 18 and 24 years, 60.90% (n=204) declared themselves brown, 96.70% were single and 5.10% (n= 17) had children. Regarding failure and intentionality of evasion, 176 (52.50%) stated that they had already failed and 62,10% (n=208) had the intention to drop out of the course. Among the factors that have an impact on the intentionality of the evasion was: "schedule of the disciplines offered", "curriculum matrix", "teaching methodology", "form of evaluation", "relationship between student and teacher/coordinator", "interpersonal relationships", "student assistance", "low remuneration of the professional", "financial difficulties", "lack of study skills", "difficulties of adaptation to the university", "disenchantment or demotivation with the course", "learning difficulties, translated into disapproval and low frequency", "inadaptation with the course" and "mental health problem". The results reinforce the need for strategies that support students during graduation, in order to reduce the impact of retention and dropout in higher education.

El estudio tenía como objetivo evaluar posibles factores asociados con la retención e intencionalidad de la evasión del curso de Farmacia de una Universidad Pública del Noreste. Estudio transversal realizado entre julio y diciembre de 2019 con estudiantes de los dos cursos de Farmacia de la Universidad Federal de Sergipe. Se recopilaron los siguientes datos: 1) datos sociodemográficos; 2) Factores relacionados con la intencionalidad de la evasión, preguntas sobre bloqueo y retención en módulos/disciplinas. Participó del estudio 335 estudiantes, 132 del campus de Lagarto y 203 de São Cristóvão. De ellos,  69,30% (n=232) eran mujeres, la mayoría (81,20%) entre 18 y 24 años, 60,90% (n=204) se declararon pardas, 96,70% eran solteros y 5,10% (n=17) tenían hijos. En cuanto al retención y la intencionalidad de la evasión, 176 (52,50%) afirmaron que ya habían reprobado y 62,10% (n=208) tenían la intención de evasión. Se destacaron los siguientes factores de intencionalidad de la evasión: "programa de las disciplinas ofrecidas", "matriz curricular", "metodología de enseñanza", "forma de evaluación", "relación entre estudiante y profesor/coordinador", "relaciones interpersonales", "asistencia al estudiante", "baja remuneración del profesional", "dificultades financieras", "falta de habilidades de estudio", "dificultades de adaptación a la universidad", "desencanto o desmotivación con el curso", "dificultades de aprendizaje, traducidas en desaprobación y baja frecuencia", "inadaptación con el curso" y "problema de salud mental". Los resultados refuerzan la necesidad de estrategias que apoyen a los estudiantes durante la graduación, con el fin de reducir el impacto en la retención escolar y la deserción escolar en la educación superior.

O estudo objetivou avaliar possíveis fatores associados à retenção e à intencionalidade de evasão do curso de Farmácia de uma Universidade Pública do Nordeste. Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado entre julho a dezembro de 2019 com estudantes dos dois cursos de graduação em Farmácia, da Universidade Federal de Sergipe. Para a coleta de dados utilizou-se um instrumento que contemplava: 1) Dados Sociodemográficos e; 2) Fatores ligados à intencionalidade de evasão questões, sobre trancamento e reprovação em módulos / disciplinas. Participaram da pesquisa 335 estudantes, sendo 132 do campus Lagarto e 203 estudantes de São Cristóvão.Destes, 69,30% (n = 232) eram mulheres, a maioria (81,20%) apresentava idade entre 18 e 24 anos, 60,90% (n = 204) se autodeclaram pardos, 96,70% eram solteiros e 5,10% (n = 17) possuíam filhos. Quanto a reprovação e intencionalidade de evasão, 176 (52,50%) afirmaram já ter reprovado e 62,10% (n = 208) a intenção de desistir do curso.Entre os fatores que impactam na intencionalidade da evasão destacou-se: "horário das disciplinas ofertadas", "matriz curricular", "metodologia de ensino", "forma de avaliação", "relação entre aluno e professor / coordenador", "relações interpessoais "," Assistência aos alunos "," baixa renda do profissional "," dificuldades financeiras "," falta de habilidades de estudo "," dificuldade de adaptação à universidade "," desencanto ou desmotivação com o curso "," dificuldades de aprendizagem, traduzidas em reprovação e baixa frequência "," inadaptação com o curso "e" problema de saúde mental ". Os resultados reforçam a necessidade de aplicar que subsidiem os estudantes durante a graduação,