Pharmacy projects 2013

Abstract

Kazeem Olalekan, a Technology Manager for Iforg Ltd writing in the Pharmaceutical Journal last October states that passion sets the heart racing and asks the question: Can it be applied to the profession of pharmacy? This abstract booklet shows how the students in the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Malta are empowered to develop their passion to the profession through their research work towards the enhancement of knowledge and innovation in a broad spectrum of pharmaceutical processes. Students are encouraged to develop the right type of passion – a form of enthusiasm that involves professional engagement, clinical engagement, patient centred, research oriented attitude both in practice and in science whether working in clinical, laboratory or IT based projects. The projects encompass areas that give the opportunity to each and every student to harness the passion for pharmacy, whatever the area that one is focusing on as evidenced by the width and breadth of the topics covered. These projects include point-of-care testing, pharmacotherapy, pharmacoeconomics, regulatory affairs, pharmaceutical care, pharmacy information, pharmacy administration, quality risk management, clinical management, medicinal chemistry and drug design. Students are embedded with the concepts proposed by Vallerand that in the field of research the passion must be directed as a major motivational force that leads one to innovative and committed evolvement. Passion for the profession of pharmacy in itself is not enough. It needs to be guided to ensure that it is a harmonious passion versus an obsessive passion. It has been shown in other areas, such as in the sport scenario, that harmonious passion is conducive to high levels of performance and more importantly to ensuring a happy life. Olalekan quotes an example from pharmacy research of how harmonious passion could make all the difference in outcomes in contrast to obsessive passion. He cites how performing a Medicines Use Review (MUR), which delivers real benefit for the patients, is considered to be harmonious but performing the same task just to make up numbers because of external pressures may be considered as obsessive. There are certain areas in pharmacy practice, such as in certain aspects of regulatory affairs, where overregulation could lead to obsessive action which results in no ultimate patient benefit. It could be pharmacoeconomically disadvantageous to the process and is less reliably related to performance attainment. It certainly is unrelated to professional satisfaction and to happiness. It is the evolvement of harmonious passion in our pharmacy department graduates that has made such a positive impact in the practice area whether clinical, industrial or administrative. This is perhaps the secret behind the excellence enjoyed in the international sphere by the University of Malta’s Department of Pharmacy graduates – that of engaging in Harmonious Passion towards pharmacy. The research projects presented in this booklet are a significant contribution in the course plan towards achieving such academic and professional excellence. Congratulations to all students, all members of the academic, research, technical and administration staff for their hard and dedicated work and yes – for their positive harmonious passion towards Pharmacy. [Foreword by Professor Anthony Serracino-Inglott]