National assessment of pharmaceutical workforce and education using the International Pharmaceutical Federation's global development goals: a case study of Qatar.

BACKGROUND: The sustainable development goals were launched by the United Nations in 2015. Its fifth goal was describing the achievement of universal health coverage by 2030. This goal reaffirms the importance of investing in the development and training of the global health workforce. In alliance with this, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has published reports about pharmacy workforce planning in several countries. However, data about Qatar were not included in these reports. In 2017, FIP developed a transformational roadmap of pharmaceutical workforce and education. One systematic framework component of the roadmap is the Pharmaceutical Workforce Development Goals (DG[w]s) that were released in late 2016 and subsequently incorporated into the more comprehensive Global Development Goals1 in 2020, encompassing not only workforce development, but additionally practice and pharmaceutical science development. This study aimed to evaluate the current situation of pharmacy workforce and education in Qatar in relation to the original 13 Pharmaceutical Workforce Development Goals (DG[w]s). The objective was to identify the gaps in pharmacy workforce and education and to recommend evidence-led strategies to be included in both the Ministry of Public Health and the Qatar University College of Pharmacy workforce development plans. METHODS: Three rounds of conventional Delphi technique were conducted with expert panels of key decision-makers in pharmacy practice from the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University and the Ministry of Public Health, utilizing the FIP's self-assessment survey. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze and prioritize the identified gaps from the collected data. DG[w] was considered "met" if all the provided indicators were achieved, "partially met" if at least one of the indicators were achieved, and "not met" if none of the indicators were achieved RESULTS: The lack of competency framework (DG[w]5), workforce data (DG[w]12), and workforce policy formation (DG[w]13) are three major gaps in the provision of pharmaceutical workforce and pharmacy education in Qatar, influencing other DG[w]s. These gaps need to be addressed by the formation of Qatar Pharmaceutical Association through which academic, practice, and policymaking sectors can work together in developing health workforce intelligence system. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that DG[w]s are interrelated and a gap in one goal can negatively influence others. Results and recommendations of this research will facilitate the implementation of strategic plans across leading pharmacy sectors to meet health needs in Qatar and achieve the third pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Examining the Disconnect Between Communities of Practice Learning Theory and Educational Practices in the PharmD Program in Qatar.

Objective. To examine the Qatar University Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program for evidence of incorporation of communities of practice (CoP) learning theory. Methods. A developed CoP framework was used as a theoretical instrument to analyze the evidence of CoP theory in QU PharmD program, utilizing a case study research approach. Results. The research suggests that the evidence of the CoP framework in the PharmD program falls into three categories. The first category represents elements of CoP that were fully evident, such as knowledge recontextualization, social and professional acceptance, and effective assessment measures. The second category represents elements that were partially evident, such as the formation of a co-development team, informal learning, mentoring strategies, and preceptors' orientation to assessment. The third category represents elements that were not evident, such as collaboration between faculty and preceptors and ensuring the reliability and validity of assessment tools. In cases where elements of CoP were implemented, this was an implicit rather than explicit application of CoP theory. Therefore, it was theorized that the disconnect between CoP learning theory and educational practices is at the "implicit disconnect" level. Conclusion. This research indicates that the CoP framework facilitated the identification of areas for future quality improvement and suggests that the theoretical CoP framework could be used by other programs to identify areas for improvements. We theorize that a full and explicit implementation of learning theory into educational practices is crucial, which calls for the collaboration of academic, practice, accreditation, and governmental sectors in pharmacy educational reform initiatives.

Transforming the pharmaceutical workforce in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a call for action.

Planning and development of the pharmaceutical workforce is fundamental to achieving universal health coverage and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has recognized the importance of constructing mechanisms for transforming the global workforce. FIP has launched a developmental road map in order to support and facilitate global, regional and national transformations of pharmaceutical education and the workforce. Literature on the pharmaceutical workforce in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region is limited but what there is reports persistent workforce challenges. This necessitates stronger engagement across all countries of the Region to develop workable and sustainable strategic plans for workforce and educational development by adopting and adapting approaches to national transformation needs and the FIP roadmap. Countries have an opportunity to engage with FIP in collaborative programmes to implement the FIP roadmap locally, and provide proof of concept and a leadership model for other WHO regions.

Adult Learning Theories in Context: A Quick Guide for Healthcare Professional Educators.

BACKGROUND: Adult learning theories play a pivotal role in the design and implementation of education programs, including healthcare professional programs. There is a variation in the use of theories in healthcare professional education programs and this is may be in part due to a lack of understanding of the range of learning theories available and paucity of specific, in-context examples, to help educators in considering alternative theories relevant to their teaching setting. This article seeks to synthesize key learning theories applicable in the learning and teaching of healthcare professionals and to provide examples of their use in context. METHOD AND RESULTS: A literature review was conducted in 2015 and 2016 using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ERIC academic databases. Search terms used identified a range of relevant literature about learning theories, and their utilization in different healthcare professional education programs. The findings were synthesized and presented in a table format, illustrating the learning theory, specific examples from health and medical education, and a very brief critique of the theory. OUTCOME: The literature synthesis provides a quick and easy-to-use summary of key theories and examples of their use to help healthcare professional educators access a wider range of learning theories to inform their instructional strategies, learning objectives, and evaluation approaches. This will ultimately result in educational program enhancement and improvement in student learning experiences.