대한약국학회

Objectives: Polypharmacy has been increasing to manage complex chronic diseases in our aging society. Accordingly, provision of appropriate pharmaceutical care is emerging as a major role of pharmacists to improve patient outcomes and safety. This study evaluates a pilot project involving the collaboration between Gyeonggido Pharmaceutical Association’s community pharmaceutical care service and Ajou University College of Pharmacy’s pharmacy practice experience. Methods: A total of 17 6^th year pharmacy students from Ajou University College of Pharmacy carried out pharmacy practice experience in a group of two by accompanying pharmacists from Gyeonggido Pharmaceutical Association’s community pharmaceutical care service from May 23, 2022 to July 1, 2022. Results: Pharmacy practice experience was conducted 25 times in total, including 12 sessions (48%) on safe drug use, 12 (48%; addictive drugs, alcohol, tobacco) on drug abuse, and one (4%) on career in pharmacy. The survey response rate was 65.5%, and student participation and attitude toward the experience were rated as “very good” and “good” by 89.5% and 10.5% of the respondents, respectively. Conclusion: Through this project, pharmacy students were given the opportunity to build a mentor-mentee relationship with practicing pharmacists. They also acquired effective communication skills needed in pharmacist-patient relationship by shadowing the pharmacists. Based on this study, a new community pharmaceutical care model could be established by linking a pharmacist association and pharmacy students.