Awareness of pharmacy students about pharmacist activities during a disaster

Abstract

The recorded activities of pharmacists during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake provided concrete examples of pharmacist responses and the necessity for related pharmaceutical education. However, there needed to be a report on pharmacy student awareness of these pharmacist activities. This study surveyed students on their understanding of pharmacist activities to improve disaster education. The results were significantly influenced by the response of first-year student willingness to participate in disaster response. The influential factors were “pharmacists have an obligation to participate in disaster relief activities,” “pharmacists are useful in disaster relief activities,” and “listening to patients and providing psychological care are pharmacists’ activities in disaster situations.” Therefore, focusing on pharmacists’ sense of duty and contribution in times of disaster enhances pharmacy education and is necessary for providing mental health care and promoting future disaster relief activities.