Question

In the 1940s and 1960s, what did pharmacy education focus on?

a) Clinical services
b) Drug discovery
c) Pharmaceutical care
d) Dispensing techniques

Answer 1

In the 1940s and 1960s, pharmacy education was centered on dispensing techniques since pharmacists were actively involved in drug compounding. The focus has since shifted to include more comprehensive healthcare roles, such as medication management and drug discovery.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the 1940s and 1960s, pharmacy education focused on dispensing techniques. This was a time when pharmacists, often referred to as chemists, did a lot of drug preparation or compounding themselves. The role of the pharmacist was primarily to dispense drugs prescribed by doctors and advise on their correct use.

However, the nature of pharmacy has evolved since then, growing to encompass drug discovery and pharmaceutical care. With advances in biomedical knowledge and technology, pharmacists now have a more direct role in healthcare, which involves working with medical professionals to ensure optimal medication selection and usage, as well as contributing to the development of new medications through their knowledge of chemistry and biology.

The 'career focus' of a pharmacist now includes broader responsibilities such as advising on drug interactions, advising patients, and understanding the effects of drugs on the body, with the ultimate goal of improving patient health.