Training needs of community pharmacists for advanced pharmaceutical care management

Introduction: Advanced pharmaceutical care management skills relate to the provision of specialised pharmacotherapy for patients, like cancer patients, who require special attention and therapeutic drugs. Kitasato University Hospital has been conducting its own advanced pharmacist training programmes to improve the advanced pharmaceutical care management skills of community pharmacists. This study aimed to identify their needs for training in advanced pharmaceutical care management skills. Methods: A web-based survey of the members of the Kanagawa Pharmaceutical Association was conducted. Results: The majority of the participants wanted to undergo advanced pharmacist traineeship, and preferred hospitals offering both advanced and specialist training. The main requirements for advanced pharmacist training were a programme of duration (one to three months); E-learning or training at a university hospital; and content related to outpatient chemotherapy. Conclusion: A training programme that meets these requirements might increase the number of medical care providers with advanced pharmaceutical care management skills and improve cancer care quality.