R. King

THE role of the pharmacist in Romania has been changing since the reform of the political system in 1989. As in many other countries pharmacists were educated with an emphasis on preparing and dispensing medicines. But when the health care system reformed to improve professional training as part of improving primary health care delivery and family planning, pharmacists were able to strengthen their role and expand the scope of their practice. The TrainPharm Project, begun in 1999, was initiated to enhance pharmacists' skills in the areas of primary health care, reproductive health care and family planning. The project is a joint effort between the Howard University Continuing Education Pharmacists and Continuing Education (PACE) Center, in the USA, and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMF-Cluj) in Romania.

University-based, skills enhancement workshops for practicing pharmacists were a core activity of the TrainPharm Project. A set of training manuals has been designed, produced and distributed to provide instructional content and training guidance for the Project. The set included a trainer's and a participant's manual, each divided into the following training modules:

• introduction and workshop overview

• the pharmacist providing reproductive health and family planning services

• contraceptive facts

• sexually transmitted disease/HIV/AIDS treatment facts

• menopause and applicable treatment facts

• communications and counselling

• promoting the role of pharmacists in reproductive health

• administration and marketing of contraceptive products in the pharmacy

With 445 pages, the participant's manual contains lecture and training material, handouts and space for note-taking. Along with the contents of the participant's manual, the trainer's manual includes step-by-step instructions for conducting the teaching, handouts, training aids, and an additional module on monitoring and evaluation, "Training Monitoring, Follow-up and Follow On". Each module begins with learning objectives to guide instruction according to each objective.

The manuals incorporate a variety of learning approaches to accommodate different learning styles and to allow for a mixture of lecture, interaction and practice. The training approaches include:

• "lecturettes", which provide the content;

• discussions, which engage participants and allow them to tie what they are learning into their real-world responsibilities;

• exercises/games, which involve the participants and help them process what they are learning;

• case studies, which help participants put theory into practice;

• role plays, which allow participants to process and practice what they are learning.

The manuals offer a comprehensive approach to involving pharmacists. They can be easily adapted to specific country or programme training needs and content. The detail and structure of the manuals provide trainers with the strategies and resources to effectively reach and communicate with participants, creating a programme that is easy to conduct and evaluate. Participants are empowered also, with improved communication skills, a new perspective on their role and their clients' concerns, and the knowledge to be effective resources for the community.

For details of how to obtain copies of the manuals, contact: The PACE Center, Howard University Continuing Education, 1100 Wayne Avenue Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; or visit the Center's web site: http://www.pacecenter.net

Report provided by Rosalyn C. King, Director of the Pharmacists and Continuing Education (PACE) Center at Howard University Continuing Education, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.