Objective: To ascertain and compare the differences, extent and depth of education in Social Pharmacy and reveal international regional variations. To analyze Social Pharmacy education at different pharmaceutical faculties. To examine the range and scope of teaching subjects partially related to the social, behavioral and administrative pharmacy sciences. Methods: A questionnaire survey was developed based on the examination of the study plans of 15 pharmacy schools around the world. A questionnaire was created based on the analysis of the curricula and mailed to 371 deans (or heads of Departments of Social Pharmacy) at colleges and schools of pharmacy in Europe, North America and developing countries (Latin America, Asia and Africa). Results: Fifty-one usable surveys were returned to the authors (a 53% response rate). 41% of the respondents reported that their school of pharmacy had a Social Pharmacy Department. In addition, 41% of the schools featured Social Pharmacy as a separate subject. This article describes regional differences and different representation of sub-disciplines. Conclusions: Although the most of surveyed schools had Social Pharmacy and related sub-disciplines in their curricula, there were large differences in approach and scope of teaching. Regional trends were discovered connected with the economic, political and social environment of particular regions.

PurposeDiet and eating habits are of key importance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this comparative study was to analyze fat- and fiber-related behavior (FFB) in patients with T2DM from distinct cultural areas.Patients and methodsObservational study was carried out in the Czech Republic (CR) (n=200), the US (n=207), and Yemen (n=200). Patients completed the Fat- and Fiber-related Diet Behavior Questionnaire (FFBQ).ResultsDifferences in all aspects of FFB among countries were found (P<0.05). The best fat-related behavior reported was from patients from the CR. Patients from the US showed the worst fat-related behavior in total. On the other hand, patients from the US reported the best fiber-related behavior. Patients from Yemen reached the worst scores in all fat-related domains. Patients from all studied countries reported the best results in the “modify meat” and “avoid fat as flavoring” and the worst in the “substitute high fiber” subscales.ConclusionProfessionals involved in the diet education of T2DM patients should be aware of the specificity of diet in their country when advising patients keeping general recommendations. We suggest them to be as specific as possible and concentrate on fiber-related behavior.