Learning activities (LAs) regarding direct patient care in the ward are an important part of the pharmacy school education to enhance professional competency. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacy students’ satisfaction with the quality of hospital pharmacy practice experience has decreased, and there is limited study on the status of LAs regarding the direct patients care in hospitals. Therefore, this study aims to determine the current status of direct patients care LAs and their barriers to ensure level and consistency of education. Method: A survey study was conducted among pharmacists in charge of student education about the status of direct patients care LAs in their hospitals by using survey questionnaires in 2024. This survey questions consisted of dichotomous questions, expressed as percentages. Results: Among 26 hospitals, 88.5% (n=23) responded.71.4% (5 cases) of tertiary hospitals with more than 1,000 beds conducted direct inpatient care LAs. 33.3% (3 cases) of general hospitals with 700-300 beds conducted direct patient care LAs. The lowest direct patient cares LAs (16.7% versus 9.1%) was antimicrobial stewardship intervention in two types of hospitals. Overall, the level of direct patient cares LAs in the ward was not consistent between two types of hospitals. The major barrier to the implementation of direct inpatient cares LAs in both types of hospitals was the lack of pharmacists. Conclusion: This result sheds light on the importance of developing new strategies for training programs in the ward and ensuring level and consistency in learning approach.

Background: Community pharmacy experiential education in South Korea, introduced in 2014, faces challenges in standardization due to the independent nature of pharmacies. Preceptors play a vital role, yet their responsibilities remain undefined. This study an-alyzes preceptors’ job functions, focusing on competencies and comparing perceptions between preceptors and students. Methods: Using the Developing Curriculum (DACUM) method, a task inventory questionnaire assessed the frequency, importance, and dif-ficulty of preceptor responsibilities. The survey targeted preceptors affiliated with South Korean pharmacy schools and accreditedpharmacies. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and correlation analyses. Results: Responses from 103 preceptorsand 105 students identified professionalism (43.6±13.6), interpersonal skills (36.2±14.4), and communication skills (35.8±15.0) ascore competencies. Students rated tasks such as providing feedback and mentoring as more important than preceptors did. Femalepreceptors scored higher in clinical knowledge and communication. Preceptor experience influenced perceptions of task difficulty,with early-stage preceptors reporting challenges in professionalism and communication. Conclusions This study highlights the mul-tifaceted roles of community pharmacy preceptors, emphasizing professionalism, communication, and feedback. Tailored training programs are needed to address identified gaps. Future research should include diverse samples and objective performance measures to further refine preceptor development strategies.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing beta-cells in the pancreas.Genetic variations within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) significantly influence the development of T1D, with diseaseprogression often indicated by the presence of autoantibodies. Until recently, insulin therapy was the sole treatment for T1D. However, in 2022, the Food and Drug Administration approved teplizumab, an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, as a novel immunomodulatory therapy to delay the onset of T1D. Various immunologic agents, including anti-CD antibodies and anti-cytokine autoantibodies, have been investigated across various stages of T1D in clinical trials. This article examines the current status of drug development for theprevention and treatment of T1D and summarizes key studies that aimed at delaying the onset of T1D using these agents. While effortsto halt or prevent the disease prior to clinical diagnosis have yielded limited success, post-diagnosis interventions have shown promising potential in slowing disease progression by preserving beta-cell function. Further investigation into long-term clinical outcomes related to the delay of T1D onset is necessary, and ongoing studies require extended follow-up to assess their full potential.

Background: This study sought to research the implementation of pharmaceutical care services and review the pharmaceutical care services used for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: All articles reporting pharmacists’ implementation of pharmaceutical care services during the COVID-19 pandemic were comprehensively searched in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases up toJuly 7, 2021, then included in this study. Twenty-four items of pharmaceutical care services were classified into the following 5categories: patient evaluation and monitoring, clinical decision support, compounding/dispensing/administration, patient consultation and education, and drug-related policy research and development. Results: A total of 674 articles from 100 countrieswere included, with the United States of America being the most frequently studied country. Across the 5 classified categories,compounding/dispensing/administration was most frequently examined (28.9%), followed by patient consultation and education (25.2%). Among the 24 items of pharmaceutical care services, medicine supply management was most frequently reported on (11.4%), followed by patient consultations (11.0%). The primary implemented pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination were public health education, COVID-19 testing services, medicine supply management, and vaccination, respectively. Conclusion Pharmacists have implemented diverse pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination globally. Further studies should be conducted to determine the correlation between the characteristics of healthcare accessibility in a country and the implemented pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19.

Background: The drug addiction crisis in South Korea highlights the need to activate the Korea Association Against Drug Abuse’s (KAADA) rehabilitation centers. This study proposes strategies to activate drug rehabilitation centers by analyzing factors affecting participation intention. Method: We analyzed questionnaire responses from participants (n=540) in Incheon KAADA’s deferred prosecution and probation programs. Descriptive statistics covered treatment-experience, mental health, and social support by drug type. A multivariable logistic analysis was conducted to analyze the association between the characteristics of drug offenders and their intention to use rehabilitation centers. Results: Among the participants, most drug abusers mainly used stimulants (59.8%), followed by cannabis (27.7%), opioids and sedatives (6.8%), and other substances (5.8%). Stimulant users(odds ratio [OR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-3.83), treatment-experienced (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.08-2.92), poor mental health (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.28-3.60), and poor social support (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.07-2.83) were significantly associated with the intention to use rehabilitation centers. In drug-specific subgroup analysis, cannabis users showed a lack of clear motivation forutilizing rehabilitation centers. Additionally, in the sex-based subgroup analysis, intent to use rehabilitation centers increased with age among men, whereas women under 30 displayed the highest intent. Conclusion The study suggests enhancing rehabilitation centers by strengthening personalized programs for those with poor social support and creating flexible online programs for can-nabis users. Additionally, incorporating pharmacist interventions during medical shopping or polypharmacy scenarios could bebeneficial.

The concept of e-sports is being established as a sport that we have previously recognized, not just a simple electronic game. However, it is not clear whether e-sports share the same characteristics as sports, and even if they do, how doping will be a problem in e-sports. In this paper, we examined how to deal with the doping issue in e-sports by comparing the characteristics of general sports and e-sports. We also investigated what form doping will take in e-sports and what information pharmacists should know in the future. In conclusion, it is necessary to expand the scope of anti-doping activities that have been actively implemented in existingsports to the field of e-sports to prevent damage to the health of e-sports athletes and maintain fairness and transparency in e-sportsactivities. In addition, it is thought that pharmacists, who are experts in medication, will need to understand the overall characteristicsof e-sports and the differences in the target group at risk of doping and activate their role in providing individualized pharmaceuticalservices in the future.

Background: This study aimed to explore the current activities of pharmacists in local pharmacies for preventing narcotics addiction, identify areas for improvement, and support initiatives to enhance and expand the activities of “narcotics addiction prevention counseling pharmacies” (hereinafter referred to as “Majung Pharmacies”). Methods: Surveys were conducted targeting local community pharmacists participating in the Majung Pharmacy activities in Daegu. Results: Out of 42 pharmacists who registered in the Majung Pharmacy movement in 2021, 41 responded (response rate of 98%). After excluding three participants who met the exclusion criteria, data from 38 participants were analyzed. The participating pharmacists were generally well aware of the conditions for pharmacists to serve as “accessible experts” in the forefront of drug addiction prevention. It was observed that the activities of Majung Pharmacies, particularly among highly engaged pharmacists, led to positive effects such as an increased focus on medication coun-seling for psychotropic drugs, thereby enhancing their professionalism. However, a significant number of participants also expressednegative opinions. Factors such as enthusiasm for professional activities and perceptions of the pharmacist’s social role were important in shaping perceptions of Majung Pharmacy activities, whether positively or negatively. Additionally, this study underlined that pharmacists in practice are highly aware of the seriousness of issues arising from the use of narcotics by prescriptions. Conclusion Suggestions were outlined for both short-term and long-term strategies aimed at ensuring the stable growth and expansion of Majung Pharmacy initiatives.

Background: Medication’s benefits and harms require careful management. Laws mandate pharmacists to provide essential med-ication details since inadequate counseling may pose risks. This study explores public expectations for pharmacist-provided side effect information to enhance safety. Methods: A self-developed questionnaire was created for participant to self-report, refined through pilot surveys with experts and laypersons. Nineteen items were categorized into four sections, using closed-ended ques-tions. Adults over 20, having obtained prescription medications within the past year, were surveyed via convenience sampling.Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and T-tests using IBM SPSS Statistics 21 and Microsoft Excel. Results: The study involved 189 participants, with a slightly higher proportion of females (59.3%) than males (40.7%), predominantly in their 20s (45.0%) and college graduates (57.1%). Health professionals represented 76.2% of respondents. Over half visited pharmacies at least 5 times yearly for prescriptions. Indirect experience with side effects was more common (30.2%) than direct experience (17.5%). Most (82.0%) showed interest in media-reported side effect events. Satisfaction with pharmacist-provided side effect explanations was low (59.7%), but importance was high (98.9%). Preferences favored combined verbal and written explanations (65.1%), with a majority desiring explanations for common but less serious side effects (82.5%). Healthcare professionals found explanations significantly more sufficient than non-professionals did. Older individuals, those living with elderly, and frequent pharmacy visitors attributed greater importance to pharmacist-provided explanations. Conclusion Koreans view pharmacist-pro-vided medication side effect explanations as vital but find current services lacking. Enhancements in content and delivery meth-ods are needed in pharmacy counseling to meet public expectations.

Background: Increasing numbers of studies and research about artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have led to their application in clinical trials. The purpose of this study is to analyze computer-based new technologies (AI/ML) applied on clini-cal trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov to elucidate current usage of these technologies. Methods: As of March 1st, 2023, protocols listed on ClinicalTrials.gov that claimed to use AI/ML and included at least one of the following interventions—Drug, Biological, Dietary Supplement, or Combination Product—were selected. The selected protocols were classified according to their context of use: 1) drug discovery; 2) toxicity prediction; 3) enrichment; 4) risk stratification/management; 5) dose selection/optimization; 6) adherence; 7) synthetic control; 8) endpoint assessment; 9) postmarketing surveillance; and 10) drug selection. Results The applications of AI/ML were explored in 131 clinical trial protocols. The areas where AI/ML was most frequently utilized in clinical trials included endpoint assessment (n=80), followed by dose selection/optimization (n=15), risk stratification/management (n=13), drug discovery (n=4), adherence (n=4), drug selection (n=1) and enrichment (n=1). Conclusion: The most frequent application of AI/ML in clinical trials is in the fields of endpoint assessment, where the utilization is primarily focuses on the diagnosis of disease by imag-ing or video analyses. The number of clinical trials using artificial intelligence will increase as the technology continues to developrapidly, making it necessary for regulatory associates to establish proper regulations for these clinical trials.

Background: There was an important revision of the Korean Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke (KCPGS) for antithrombotic therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke in 2022. This review is to provide an updated information in this revision. Methods: The revision history by year after the first announcement was examined for each topic, focusing on antithrombotic therapy duringacute phase which was revised in 2022. We compared before and after the revision, and investigated the clinical outcomes presented as evidence. It was also compared with the current U.S. guidelines. Results: The major changes about antiplatelet therapy are a clause stating that dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin initiated within 24 hours from the stroke onset and maintained for up to 21-30 days is recommended as an acute treatment, as well as the clause that antithrombotic therapy may be initiated within 24 hours after intravenous thrombolytics and that the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists can be considered inhighly selected patients as rescue therapy taking into account of benefit and risk. The change to the use of anticoagulants is that itmay be reasonable to start oral anticoagulant between 4 and 14 days after stroke onset for patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation. Conclusions It will be helpful in improving health outcomes for clinical pharmacists to be aware of the latest information for antithrombotic therapy and to actively use it in pharmaceutical care of stroke patients.