Nina Katajavuori

A Method for Teaching Communication in Pharmacy in Authentic Work Situations

Studies consistently confirm that there is an extensive need for new theoretical and practical directions for communication in disciplines (CID) programmes. The CID pedagogy calls for more specialized training with more specialized methods in particular professions. This study presents a method developed for practical training studies in pharmacy based on the CID framework. The data (N=481) were collected from both students and mentors via online surveys using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The results strongly suggest that the teaching method is highly suitable for teaching discipline-specific communication skills in authentic work situations. The study shows that the CID pedagogy has potential in helping mentors improve their communication competence while they are supervising students.

Enhancing the development of pharmacy education by changing pharmacy teaching

In this paper, we present a model which describes the main elements and aspects of teaching and learning in pharmacy education. We first explore what quality of teaching and learning means. From this information, we concentrate on pedagogical implications to change pharmacy teaching to improve the quality of learning. In the final section, we summarise the importance of developing the pharmacy teaching due to the demands of Bologna process, lifelong learning in working life, and university staff development.

Evaluating the use of criteria for assessing profession-specific communication skills in pharmacy

One central task in higher education is to provide students with interpersonal communication competence in their profession. To achieve this, specialised training, based on an understanding of disciplinary communication practices and appropriate assessment methods, is needed. However, there is a lack of reliable assessment instruments which are designed to assess profession-specific communication skills and to strengthen students’ reflective skills. This study evaluated the reliability and consistency of teacher evaluations based on developed criteria, and tested the suitability of the criteria as a tool for reflecting on one’s behaviour in pharmacy. The main findings suggest that professionally tailored criteria offer a reliable framework for assessing discipline-specific communication skills and for improving students’ learning. The approach and the methods used in this study could be applied in other disciplines as well, in order to promote the development of students’ communication skills and reflective action, and to improve profession-specific assessment practices.

Competence-Based Pharmacy Education in the University of Helsinki

In order to meet the expectations to act as an expert in the health care profession, it is of utmost importance that pharmacy education creates knowledge and skills needed in today’s working life. Thus, the planning of the curriculum should be based on relevant and up-to-date learning outcomes. In the University of Helsinki, a university wide curriculum reform called ‘the Big Wheel’ was launched in 2015. After the reform, the basic degrees of the university are two-cycle (Bachelor–Master) and competence-based, where the learning outcomes form a solid basis for the curriculum goals and implementation. In the Faculty of Pharmacy, this curriculum reform was conducted in two phases during 2012–2016. The construction of the curriculum was based on the most relevant learning outcomes concerning working life via high quality first (Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy) and second (Master of Science in Pharmacy) cycle degree programs. The reform was kicked off by interviewing all the relevant stakeholders: students, teachers, and pharmacists/experts in all the working life sectors of pharmacy. Based on these interviews, the intended learning outcomes of the Pharmacy degree programs were defined including both subject/contents-related and generic skills. The curriculum design was based on the principles of constructive alignment and new structures and methods were applied in order to foster the implementation of the learning outcomes. During the process, it became evident that a competence-based curriculum can be created only in close co-operation with the stakeholders, including teachers and students. Well-structured and facilitated co-operation amongst the teachers enabled the development of many new and innovative teaching practices. The European Union funded PHAR-QA project provided, at the same time, a highly relevant framework to compare the curriculum development in Helsinki against Europe-wide definitions of competences and learning outcomes in pharmacy education.

The Utilization of Quality KPIs in the Pharmaceutical Industry

PurposeThe overall aim of this study was to investigate the significance of quality key performance indicators (KPIs) and how comprehensively they are used in the pharmaceutical industry. A specific aim was to find which KPIs were relevant to personnel from the perspective of their own work responsibilities. A further aim was to determine which factors motivate personnel enough to respond to improve KPIs.MethodsQualitative theme interviews of ten staff from one case company were conducted to study the impact of KPIs. Interview data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and reductive analysis.ResultsPersonnel considered deviations in manufacturing and packaging to be the most important quality KPI when they considered their own work responsibilities. The quality indicators data were utilized quite efficiently, for example, in complaint and deviation handling processes, and they provided useful information for corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)-reporting. The most important factors that motivated supervisors, managers, and experts regarding KPIs were those that affected interviewees own particular work responsibilities, the cooperation within the operators own departments, and the cooperation between different departments. The interviewees opined that the production bonus was the most important motivational factor for production operators to improve upon quality indicator performance.ConclusionsQuality indicator feedback data were utilized widely by the case company and were considered to be a useful tool to guide personnel in ensuring or potentially improving the quality of operations.

Quality KPIs in Pharmaceutical and Food Industry

PurposeThis study aims to investigate what type of quality key performance indicators (KPIs) companies use and how they utilize the results of these KPIs.MethodsThis e-mail survey is aimed at the personnel in the pharmaceutical and the food industries of Finland responsible for quality.ResultsQuality KPIs were similar for both the pharmaceutical and food industries with some differences existing in their usage and reporting. In the pharmaceutical industry, the most common quality KPI was rejected batches followed by the number of complaints, product defects, and deviations. The number of complaints was the most common quality KPI for the food industry. The next most common KPIs were the loss during process and the number of deviations. Respondents in both the pharmaceutical and food industries thought that it is important to follow the indicators that describe the quality of a product and operation. Food companies shared their KPIs and their results with their partners and relevant authorities more often than did pharmaceutical companies.ConclusionsThe results of this study showed that the food industry was slightly more advanced than the pharmaceutical industry in the utilization of the quality indicators. However, statistical significant differences exist between the pharmaceutical and food industries with regard to one quality indicator, namely, rejected batches on the one hand and in the opinion of respondents on how well quality indicators will help direct operations in the right direction on the other.

First-year students’ approaches to learning, and factors related to change or stability in their deep approach during a pharmacy course

Research shows that a surface approach to learning is more common among students in the natural sciences, while students representing the ‘soft’ sciences are more likely to apply a deep approach. However, findings conflict concerning the stability of approaches to learning in general. This study explores the variation in students’ approaches to learning and aims to analyse factors that are particularly related to the deep approach. The participants were first-year pharmacy students who completed a questionnaire at the beginning and end of the course. The students were interviewed to determine factors related to changes in their deep approach. The results revealed significant changes in approaches to learning at the group level. Yet, closer analysis showed much more variation at the individual level. Findings based on the interviews indicated different factors, self-regulation skills among them, which seemed to explain both the changes in and stability of the students’ deep approach.

The Use of Video Instructions in Patient Education Promoting Correct Technique for Dry Powder Inhalers: An Investigation on Inhaler-Naïve Individuals

Introduction: The correct use of a prescribed inhaler device is crucial for achieving successful disease management in asthma. This study investigates non-verbal, demonstrational videos as a method of teaching inhaler naïve individuals how to use a dry powder inhaler (DPI). Methods: Video instructions for four DPIs were examined using a mixed methodology; 31 inhaler-naïve individuals participated in the study. Participants were each shown a demonstrational video of one the four inhalers, after each video the participant demonstrated how they would use the inhaler. After demonstrating the use, participants crossed over to the next inhaler. The demonstrations were videotaped. A common questionnaire was filled at the beginning of the study and four inhaler-specific questionnaires which were filled out by the participant after each inhaler demonstration. Results: The frequency of participant error varied between inhalers. When asked about how they perceived the video instructions, participants often stated they would have liked to receive feedback on their performance. The importance of feedback was further highlighted by the fact that participants tended to overestimate their own inhaler technique. Conclusion: Non-verbal videos may be more efficient for some DPIs than for others as a method for providing inhaler instructions. Lack of feedback on the participants’ inhaler performance emerged as a clear shortcoming of this educational method. Some steps in the inhalation process may be harder for individuals to remember and therefore require extra emphasis in order to achieve correct inhaler technique.

Physicians’ relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and its reflection in introduction of a new drug

Purpose This study aims to examine the attitudes of physicians towards the pharmaceutical industry and investigates how these are reflected when a new drug is introduced. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative theme-interview study adopts the innovation diffusion perspective and is conducted with 22 general practitioners and specialists. Findings Physicians’ positive relationship orientation and active interaction can result in early adoption of new drugs with product advantage. In comparison, negatively oriented and passively interacting physicians will adopt a new drug later based on research evidence- and experience-based reasoning and opinions of their colleagues. Research limitations/implications The objective was to obtain a deeper understanding of the research themes. Further qualitative studies in different countries and health care environments with a larger sample size would improve generalizability of results. Practical implications It’s necessary to find an optimal win – win situation that fulfils both parties’ needs, while decreasing unnecessary and time-consuming marketing activities and avoiding waste of limited resources and allowing physicians to participate in activities that better serve their primary needs. Managers in pharmaceutical companies should ensure their sales representatives act in appropriate and professional ways, interact openly and reciprocally and provide accurate and objective information. Originality/value The study demonstrates that the physician–pharmaceutical industry relationship has developed from being ethically precarious and having non-professional related personal benefits, towards becoming a more sustainable collaboration. The mutually beneficial collaboration supports physicians’ professional development, enabling better patient care and relieving strain on limited resources.