Independent community pharmacists' perspectives on compounding in contemporary pharmacy education.
OBJECTIVE
To identify compounding practices of independent community pharmacy practitioners in order to make recommendations for the development of curricular objectives for doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programs.


METHODS
Independent community practitioners were asked about compounding regarding their motivations, common activities, educational exposures, and recommendations for PharmD education.


RESULTS
Most respondents (69%) accepted compounding as a component of pharmaceutical care and compounded dermatological preparations for local effects, oral solutions, and suspensions at least once a week. Ninety-five percent were exposed to compounding in required pharmacy school courses and most (98%) who identified compounding as a professional service offered in their pharmacy sought additional postgraduate compounding education. Regardless of the extent of compounding emphasis in the practices surveyed, 84% stated that PharmD curricula should include compounding.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacy schools should define compounding curricular objectives and develop compounding abilities in a required laboratory course to prepare graduates for pharmaceutical care practice.
Martin
Kathleen S
KS
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209, USA. kamartin@uiwtx.edu
McPherson
Timothy B
TB
Fontane
Patrick E
PE
Berry
Tricia
T
Chereson
Rasma
R
Bilger
Rhonda
R
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States