Objective: To clarify challenges and strategies to execute pharmaceutical care by community pharmacists and obtain pragmatic implications for further improvement. Design: Cross-sectional study.. Methods: We conducted a nationwide internet-based questionnaire survey about pharmaceutical care by the Japanese community pharmacists in June and July 2016. Using text data of 161 respondents, we investigated their challenges and strategies in implementing pharmaceutical care. The text data were reviewed and determined for categorization through stepwise process and reconciliation between reviewers. Results: Fourteen categories were retrieved and integrated into 4 domains (pharmacists, patients, other medical professionals, and environment) from 2 dimensions (challenges and strategies). In the challenge dimension (total n＝142), communication capability (n＝26), participation in medical team (n＝17), patients’ understanding of pharmacists’ work (n＝14), lack of timeand staff (n＝14),patient- and people-centered viewpoint (n＝13). Whilein thestrategy dimension (total n＝72), communication capability (n＝21),lack of patients’ medical information (n＝18), patient- and people-centered viewpoint (n＝11), lack of timeand staff (n＝9), and self development (n＝5). As strategies for the communication capability, attitude of acceptance and collaboration, brief explanation,utilization of visual aids, adoption of objective evaluation, various acquisition of patients’ information, active listening, and sharing patients’ information were retrieved as subcategories. The highest level of attention to communication capability implies that community pharmacists certainly recognize their expected responsibility described in the government document titled “Vision for patient-centered pharmacies”. Conclusion: Community pharmacists face many challenges but have some practical strategies. Although part of such challenges is not for pharmacists themselves but for patients, other medical professionals, or entire health system, improving essential skills of pharmacists may havepositiveinfluenceto theother challenges.

Objective: The purpose of this survey is to identify the individuals responsible for providing drug information (DI) services in medical institutions across the nation and understand their work conditions. Method: This survey was conducted across medical institutions nationwide, each with at least 200 general hospital beds. The survey focused on personnel in charge of DI services at medical institutions. Results: Responses were collected from 181 facilities, representing a response rate of 13.7%. The median number of full-time equivalent DI personnel at each facility was 1.2 (ranging from 0.2 to 7 (n = 180)). Among the respondents, 90 (49.7%) individuals learned their DI responsibilities from their predecessors, 81 (44.8%) individuals learned through participation in academic societies (excluding the Japanese Society for Drug Information), and 61 (33.7%) individuals gained their knowledge from academic journals, with these methods listed in their order of prevalence. The most sought-after knowledge and skills for DI personnel included the knowledge of adverse drug reaction reporting system (134 (74.0%)), basic PC skills (130 (71.8%)), knowledge of medical fees (128 (70.7%)), and expertise in disease treatment methods (125 (69.1%)). Results and Conclusion: The findings of the survey revealed that several medical institutions with 200 or more beds have only one or two individuals in charge of DI duties. Apart from their core role in drug information, the DI staff members are expected to possess extensive knowledge concerning medical fees and related matters. However, they predominantly rely on their skills for DI operations. The tasks identified in the survey are tasks that are presently being performed by DI personnel at medical institutions. This underscores the pressing need for immediate attention to be given to acquiring the essential knowledge and education required for these tasks.