title: An introductory course to facilitate the implementation of a clinical pharmacy programme in Iraq.
abstract: An introductory course in clinical pharmacy is discussed which is designed to implement the basic concepts of clinical pharmacy as well as assist in the stepwise transition from a pharmacy school, with primary emphasis on dispensing, to a more clinically (patient) oriented pharmacy programme. The course is composed of a 2-h didactic session and a 3-h observation session per week for 3 months followed by daily 3-h practical clerkships for 4 months in the following areas: in-patient and out-patient hospital pharmacy, clinical laboratory, internal medicine, paediatrics, surgery, and retail pharmacy. Weekly 2-hour discussion sessions at the college or site of the clerkship are scheduled to review these experiences and introduce additional topics such as patients rights, pharmacist-patient relations, and pharmacy relations with other health professionals. This course promotes the development of a clinically oriented attitude in students and staff members in the college, and decreases the trauma of direct change from a product-oriented to a more patient-oriented curriculum.
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical; D007493:Iraq; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital