Final answer:
Pharmacy practice includes dispensing prescribed drugs, advising on medication use, and assessing drug interactions and side effects. Pharmacists study chemistry and biology to understand the effects of drugs on the body, and while they used to compound drugs, they now focus more on medication therapy management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major activities that fall under the scope of pharmacy practice revolve around the expertise of pharmacists in medication therapy management. Primarily, pharmacists dispense prescribed drugs and provide crucial insights into drug selection, dosage, interactions, and potential side effects. This role requires a deep understanding of chemistry and biology to comprehend the impact of medications on the human body. Additionally, a pharmacist's career might involve tasks such as assessing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics during the drug discovery and development process, which includes experimentation and even detective work to bring healthier solutions to patients.
Pharmacists also play a critical role in patient care by advising on the correct use of medications, ensuring patients understand when and how to take their drugs safely. Pharmacists are licensed healthcare professionals, and they can be found in various settings such as drugstores, hospitals, and medical facilities. While in the past, pharmacists did a great deal of drug compounding, modern pharmacists mostly concentrate on the safe dispensing and management of medications.