Exploring practising pharmacy graduates’ views on improving the effectiveness of pharmacy education at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa
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Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
HEALTH & MEDICAL PUBLISHING GROUP
Abstract
South African health professional education institutions have a mandate to produce graduates who are able to address priority needs of the
healthcare system and larger society. However, evidence of the effective use of public resources by health education institutions is not routinely collected.
Practising graduates are a target audience who could provide part of this evidence. To explore the views of University of the Western Cape (UWC) pharmacy graduates on the effectiveness of pharmacy education in relation
to their current and anticipated practice aspirations. A cross-sectional electronic survey was administered to UWC pharmacy graduates through the university’s alumni office network. Twenty-five graduates responded, of whom 60% were male (average age 38.9 (standard deviation 9.52) years). One of the strongest themes
that emerged was the need for exposing pharmacy students from early on in the curriculum to a broad range of pharmacy and healthcare sectors and
addressing real issues in these changing and complex environments. Graduates stressed the importance of the development of generic skills, such as
interpersonal skills, leadership, advocacy and innovative problem-solving, which are necessary to effect positive change through collaborative and
equitable approaches.
Description
Keywords
Pharmacy, Higher education, Graduates, South Africa, Public health
Citation
van Huyssteen, M., & Bheekie, A. (2019). Exploring practising pharmacy graduates’ views on improving the effectiveness of pharmacy education at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. African Journal of Health Professions Education, 11 (3) ,77-80. 10.7196/AJHPE.2019.v11i3.1065