Background: Professional identity among novice health professions students is fluid and context-dependent, constructed through narratives that integrate personal experience and social expectations. Following Korea’s transition to a six-year pharmacy program directly admitting high school graduates, little is known about how new entrants construct and interpret their career choices. Objective: This study explored how first- and second-year pharmacy students narrate their choice of pharmacy and how early collegiate experiences shape career reflection. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 first- and second-year students at a pharmacy school. Transcripts were thematically analyzed using category aggregation, with credibility enhanced through triangulation and participant feedback. Results: Students’ narratives revealed four main drivers of career choice: strong family influence, personal interests and dispositions, admissions and institutional structures, and selective preference for pharmacy over medicine. Career values centered on stability, economic security, and social prestige, though some emphasized intrinsic interest and growth. Early curricular activities and peer interactions broadened perspectives toward research, industry, and regulatory roles. A minority reported lack of direction and motivation, showing that secure admission alone did not ensure sustained purpose. Conclusion Findings align with prior research in health professions, underscoring the powerful role of family expectations and sociocultural context. Students demonstrated nascent career narratives strongly influenced by external factors, highlighting the importance of educational opportunities that promote narrative reflection. Structured interventions such as seminars, mentoring, and diverse career role models may foster intentional exploration and the formation of a mature professional identity.

Background: Intravenous artesunate is the first-line treatment for severe malaria; however, clinical deterioration may occur duringtreatment. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with clinical deterioration and to construct a risk-scoring system. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of adult patients who received at least one dose of intravenous artesunate formalaria at the National Medical Center between January 2014 and December 2023. Clinical deterioration was defined as the new on-set of any severe malaria symptom after artesunate administration. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent predictors. Results: Among 98 patients included in the final analysis, 29 (29.6%) experienced clinical deterioration.Multivariable analysis revealed that female sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-19.0), age ≥60 years (aOR 3.4, 95% CI 0.8-14.3), presence of jaundice at admission (aOR 4.3, 95% CI 1.1-16.5), and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (aOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.0-6.8) were independently associated with increased risk of clinical deterioration. Based on these factors, a risk scoring system (range: 0-5 points) was constructed and showed a stepwise increase in deterioration risk by score. Conclusions Female sex, advanced age, jaundice, and elevated ALT were independent predictors of clinical deterioration in malaria patients treated with artesunate. The proposed risk score may aid in early identification of high-risk patients and guide clinical deci-sion-making.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) generally presents with milder illness in children and adolescents than in adults; however, infants and those with underlying chronic conditions, obesity, or immunocompromised states remain at increased risk for severe dis-ease and death. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) affects multiple organs, including the heart, gastrointestinaltract, and skin, and can result in severe illness requiring hospitalization or death. In children and adolescents, long COVID manifests with age-dependent, heterogeneous symptoms, leading not only to persistent physical complaints but also to neurologic manifestations and mental health problems. Therefore, evidence-based clinical guidelines and approved treatments for COVID-19 in children and adolescents remain limited, and research is needed to build a pediatric evidence base. Generating high-quality data is essential to develop optimized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, establish standardized care pathways, and ultimately improve preparedness and outcomes for children and adolescents during future emerging infectious disease outbreaks. In this clinical information article, we review the epidemiology, clinical symptoms, complications, and drug treatment of COVID-19 in the pediatric population.

Background: Regulatory agencies operate their own advisory committee with external experts to address complex scientific issues in the approval of pharmaceutical products. However, each advisory committee operates very differently. Hence, the authors per-formed a comprehensive gap analysis among the committees operated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Methods: The regulations, guidelines, minutes and reports on advisory committees were retrieved from the websites of FDA, EMA and MFDS. A gap analysis comparing the advisory committeesof each regulatory authority was performed, including the disclosure of information and meeting procedures, and conflict-of-interest policies. Results: Substantial differences were found among the advisory committees in the strictness of conflict-of-interests and the transparency of meeting details. Whereas FDA and EMA disclose the detailed curriculum vitae of each committee member, MFDS does only names and majors. Whereas FDA live-streams each meeting and publishes the transcript of all dialogues by each member, EMA and MFDS release only anonymized summary minutes without live broadcasts. Whereas FDA and EMA require members to disclose their financial interests, MFDS merely requires signing a statement that confirms no conflict-of-interest. Conclusions Compared with Advisory Committee of FDA and Scientific Committee of EMA, the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Advisory Committee (CPAAC) of MFDS appears to require substantial improvements in the disclosure of conflict-of-interests and the transparency ofmeeting details. This gap analysis will likely serve as a basis for policy discussions to improve the credibility of CPAAC.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to manage pain and inflammation but are associated with adverse events (AEs) across various organ systems. However, organ-specific AE profiles among different NSAID classesremain underexplored. This study aimed to compare AE patterns across NSAID classes using national pharmacovigilance data. Methods: A total of 54,251 NSAID-related AE reports from 2017 to 2021 were extracted from the Korea Adverse Event ReportingSystem (KAERS). NSAIDs were classified into six groups: propionic acids, acetic acids, oxicams, fenamic acids, COX-2 inhibitors, and salicylic acids. AEs were categorized into nine System Organ Classes (SOCs) based on Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) terminology. Disproportionality analysis was performed using Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) and Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR) to identify class-specific AE signals. Results: The most frequently reported SOCs were skin disorders (30.1%) and gastrointestinal events (24.0%). Salicylic acids showed the highest disproportionality for musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders [ROR (95% CI)=4.18 (3.56-4.90); PRR (95% CI)=4.11 (3.51-4.81)]. Fenamic acids were notably associated with skin-related AEs [ROR (95% CI)=1.86 (1.69-2.04); PRR (95% CI)=1.47 (1.40-1.55)], while COX-2 inhibitors were linked to endocrine [ROR (95% CI)=1.91 (1.47-2.47); PRR (95% CI=1.90 (1.47-2.46)] and genitourinary disorders [ROR (95% CI)=1.92 (1.59-2.31);PRR (95% CI)=1.90 (1.58-2.28)]. Conclusion NSAID classes demonstrate distinct AE disproportionality patterns, suggesting class-specific organ susceptibilities. These findings emphasize the need for personalized NSAID selection and further research intopredictive safety models.

Objective: This study aimed to comparatively analyze selected countries’ telepharmacy guidelines and propose directions for improving domestic guidelines. Methods: This was a multi-country comparative study analyzing 8 guidelines from 7 countries including South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Spain, UK and US. The analytical framework, based on WHO and International Pharmaceutical Federation reports, comprised eight core items and was applied to analyze the guidelines. Guidelines’ completeness was assessed using a three-tiered scale by two independent researchers. Results: Guidelines generally defined telepharmacy as qualified pharmacists using Information and Communication Technology for remote medication supervision and is emphasized as a supplement to face-to-face services. The primary difference between the Korean and international systems lies in the strictness versus maturity of regulations. International guidelines, often produced by professional organizations, ensure service quality while allowing broader pharmacist autonomy. Five countries, except South Korea and the UK, offered expanded services such as ComprehensiveMedication Management (USA) and chronic disease management (Singapore). Korea showed the strictest procedural controls (e.g.,volume limits) but lacked explicit standards for service quality or quality management. In contrast, Australia, Canada, Singapore, and the USA required tele-counseling quality to be equivalent to or higher than face-to-face care. Among the countries analyzed, only Korea specified details of the service reimbursement system. Conclusion To enhance domestic service quality, it is necessaryto establish an institutional framework for standardizing counseling criteria, broadening specialized services through social consensus, and systematizing education to strengthen pharmacists' digital competencies, along with the active and voluntary participation of pharmacist associations.

The Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act currently restrict pharmacists in South Ko-rea to vaccine storage, distribution and counseling roles, which were limiting the opportunity to meet surging demand during theCOVID-19 pandemic. In response, the inaugural Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery certificate training program was initiated in July 2023 in South Korea, marking a significant step for equipping pharmacists as vaccinators once national regulationsevolve. Globally, pharmacy communities have confronted numerous challenges, including regulatory restrictions, professional conflicts, competency gaps, and low public trust and awareness. Nevertheless, evidence shows pharmacy-based vaccinationprograms significantly improved immunization rates, prevented infectious diseases, reduced vaccine hesitancy, and minimized post-immunization adverse reactions. According to the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s 2024 report, 56 of 120 surveyed countries now offer pharmacy-based vaccination services, 44 grant pharmacists direct vaccine-administration rights, and 26 authorize pharmacist prescribing privileges. Learning from these international precedents, this review proposes a coordinat-ed, stepwise strategy for South Korea. Key recommendations include that pharmacy bodies and stakeholders should establish a multi-stakeholder forum to unite government agencies, medical associations, and legislators on shared policy objectives, whileengaging the public to build awareness and trust. In addition, pharmacy professions should adopt a phased authorization ap-proach, initiating with pilot program implementation, followed by rigorous evaluation and legislative endorsement, which enablepharmacists to demonstrate that the expanded scope of practice can safely and effectively improve national immunization efforts.

Background: With the increasing life expectancy in South Korea and growing public interest in health, individuals often turn to the internet for medical information. However, much of the information found online is unreliable, leading to misinformation anddifficulty in discerning credible sources. This study addresses the need to improve health information literacy among non-phar-macy students through a clinical pharmacy-based general education course. Methods: A curriculum was developed by analyzingexisting programs, conducting focus group interviews (FGI), and surveying students to identify their needs. The course, designed for non-pharmacy students, was implemented over one semester. The course utilized multimedia resources and interactive teaching methods to engage students. Results: The course effectively increased students’ understanding of health and medication-related issues. The course contents include the definition and classification of medication, contraception, medication use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, narcotics / controlled substances / alcohol / smoking / caffeine, obesity / obesity treatments, allergic diseases, acne /skin infections, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, hypertension / stroke, diabetes, and gastrointestinal diseases. Students reported high satisfaction with topics like contraception and mental health and demonstrated an improved ability to criticallyevaluate health information. The curriculum’s interactive approach and practical application contributed to a deeper understanding of key concepts and information literacy. Conclusion This study demonstrates the importance of developing clinical pharmacy-based general education courses for non-pharmacy students to enhance their ability to assess health information. The findings suggest that such courses can positively impact students’ knowledge and decision-making skills regarding health, offering a valuable educationalmodel for addressing the challenges of misinformation in the digital age.

As human space exploration extends beyond low Earth orbit, the demand for comprehensive medical and pharmaceutical sup-port is increasing. The extreme conditions of space significantly alter drug stability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.Although the role of clinical pharmacists in space missions has not been extensively studied, this review aims to analyze existing literature to identify their contributions and potential applications in space pharmacy. A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. Relevant literature published up to December 7, 2024, was retrieved from PubMed usingpredefined search terms related to clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical care, space medicine, and microgravity. Articles discussingpharmaceutical challenges in space and the potential contributions of clinical pharmacists were included. Data was extracted and thematically analyzed. A total of 26 studies were reviewed. Clinical pharmacists play critical roles in three main domains: (1) medication management and supply, including drug stability and quality control, selection and inventory management of essential medicines, and on-site manufacturing; (2) clinical pharmacy services, such as pharmacotherapy optimization under altered physiological conditions, therapeutic drug monitoring, adverse event and drug interaction surveillance, and education and counselingfor astronauts; and (3) research and development, encompassing the design of space-specific clinical trials and innovation in drugdelivery systems. The complexity of space environments demands new professional competencies from clinical pharmacists. Thisreview demonstrates that clinical pharmacists play essential roles in space missions. Future research should focus on refining space-specific pharmaceutical guidelines and enhancing training programs to ensure the safe and effective use of medications inextraterrestrial settings.

Background: Despite the increasing prevalence of rare diseases and growing medical expenses, community pharmacists’ role in rare disease management remains understudied in South Korea, even as the government emphasizes the importance of specialized healthcare professionals in rare disease management. Methods: An online survey was conducted among 75 community pharmacists in South Korea from May to June 2022. The survey assessed pharmacists’ awareness of rare diseases, current practices related to rare disease management, and perceived roles of community pharmacies in rare disease care. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: While most pharmacists (98.67%) were familiar with the term “rare disease”, only 33.33% accu-rately understood its legal definition. One-third (33.33%) of respondents had experience with rare disease patients, with an aver-age of 7 patients per pharmacy. The main services provided were medication counseling (44.00%) and health supplement advice(28.00%). Pharmacists identified high accessibility (61.33%) as their primary advantage but cited lack of specialized knowledge(48.00%) and limited patient contact (56.00%) as major challenges. The majority (74.67%) expressed interest in rare diseases, with 40.00% suggesting specialized training as the most important factor for expanding pharmacists’ role. Conclusions Although community pharmacists show strong interest and potential in rare disease management, their current involvement is limited by in-sufficient specialized knowledge and systematic support. Implementing professional education programs and establishing special-ized pharmacy pilot projects could enhance pharmacists’ contribution to rare disease management, leveraging their accessibility and comprehensive healthcare capabilities.