Telemedicine was advocated to minimize contact during the spread of infectious diseases and improve the operational efficiency and quality of medical care. The revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Law allows pharmacists to provide online medication instructions. Currently, the use of online medication instruction is being promoted alongside traditional in-person consultations for effective communication; however, its implementation is currently transitional, yet to undergo widespread acceptance, and its actual status is unclear. Therefore, a survey was conducted among community pharmacists to determine the state of the online medication education environment and equipment, its implementation, and the attitudes of pharmacists toward incorporating it into their work. The results showed that approximately 20% of respondents worked in pharmacies with equipment and environment for online consultation; most of these pharmacies were located in corporations with more than 20 pharmacies. Approximately 40% of these pharmacists were implementing online consultations to provide medication counseling to patients with infectious diseases and to improve the quality of medical care by responding to patient queries remotely and following up after administering medication. Pharmacists also suggested that the implementation of online medication administration guidance was a positive addition to their work. Furthermore, younger respondents were found to be more enthusiastic regarding incorporating online medication instructions into their work; however, this percentage decreased as the age of the respondents increased.

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Breastfeeding is a globally recognized recommendation. However, it can be challenging to determine whether medication is appropriate for lactating women who require pharmacotherapy. We experienced a case in which a pharmacist was able to intervene and support breastfeeding by selecting a medication that would not affect breastfeeding, thereby avoiding the effects of the medication on the baby. This case involved a 29-year-old pregnant woman who was urgently transported to hospital at 33 weeks and 6 days of gestation. Due to the significant enlargement of a brain tumor and obstructive hydrocephalus, emergency cesarean section and external ventricular drainage surgery were performed on the day of transportation. During the acute phase, which required treatment from both the neurosurgery and obstetrics departments, the pharmacist provided breastfeeding-related drug information. By facilitating smooth communication with physicians from different specialties, pharmacists contributed to the appropriate selection of antibiotics, antiepileptics, anemia treatments, and prophylactic medications for venous thromboembolism.

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In practical pharmacy training, summarized assessments using a rubric are employed to accurately assess overall performance and mastery level. One of the determinants of performance is personality. The General Self-Efficacy Scale（ GSES） assesses the self-awareness of one's potential to perform the required action. Similar to personality traits, it is thought to influence behavior and motivation across different situations, thereby impacting trainee performance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between GSES and summarized assessment in practical pharmacy training, as well as assess the usefulness of GSES as a possible indicator for improving trainee performance. A correlation analysis between the GSES and summarized assessments of six trainees revealed that, among the three GSES factors, only "fear of failure" correlated with most items in the summarized assessment, showing a significantly positive correlation with the mean overall evaluation score. The summarized assessment indicated a strong relation with "fear of failure." Trainees with low scores in "fear of failure" may be hesitant to engage in practical work due to this fear. Therefore, appropriate guidance and follow-ups are essential for those who experience failure during training. This study will help devise instructional methods that align with the self-efficacy of individual students.

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As the scope of interpersonal work by pharmacists increases, there is a growing need to cultivate patient care-related qualities. It is essential for pharmacy students to possess a personal sense of ethics, professional ethical framework, and perspective on life and death that enables them to confront the diverse realities of life and death. Consequently, providing students with opportunities to thoroughly reflect on their views of life and death during their time in pharmacy school is crucial for building emotional resilience to engage with patients’ perspectives. To this end, we developed and implemented an educational program focused on perspectives regarding life and death using osteosarcoma as the target disease. Third-year pharmacy students confronted their own views of life and death by actively choosing between aggressive treatment and palliative care options. Analysis of the post-program questionnaire indicated that many students understood the program’s primary objectives: the importance of continually developing one’s perspectives on life and death and necessity of engaging with others’ views, rather than solely relying on one’s own. In the future, we aim to continually provide pharmacy students with opportunities to explore their perspectives on life and death and evaluate the results.

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