Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge and Attitude toward Registration Trials and Clinical Research: A Survey in a Japanese University Hospital

Abstract

Clinical research plays a fundamental role in establishing new treatments. Clinical research coordinators are considered essential in clinical research, and medical professionals such as pharmacists often take on this role. Pharmacy students can be considered future candidates for this task. We used questionnaires to survey the knowledge of and attitudes toward registration trials and clinical research of pharmacy students at Tokushima University Hospital. All pharmacy students (103) to whom questionnaires were sent responded. Almost all respondents were aware of registration trials and clinical research. More than 90% were aware of the existence of clinical research coordinators, and about half (48.6%) understood their role. In clinical research terminology, most respondents were aware of informed consent and related issues, but fewer than 20% were aware of more practical things. In total, 29.1% and 40.8% of the respondents were willing to carry out and coordinate research. These findings suggest that pharmacy students have basic knowledge of clinical research and that many students are willing to carry out and coordinate clinical research. More practical exposure to clinical research may help to strengthen their future contribution. Further studies may help to determine how to provide education on registration trials and clinical research to pharmacy students.

Evaluation of Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge and Perception of Scientific Integrity

“…The knowledge of pharmacy students about specific research misconduct terminologies was found to be comparable with a previous investigation of pharmacy students in a Japanese University Hospital [7]. Current and previous results indicate that scientific misconduct represents a significant issue that needs to be addressed [7]. In the current study, almost less than half of responders were aware of research misconduct terminologies such as plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification.…”

Present Status and Perspectives on Future Roles of Japanese Clinical Research Coordinators

“…In our previous survey of 597 nurses, 26% of the respondents expressed their willingness to work as CRCs [ 29 ]. In another survey of pharmacy students, we found that more than 90% were aware of the CRC role and 29% and 41% were willing to carry out and coordinate research, respectively [ 30 ]. Exposure on and education of the broader role of CRCs to nurses, pharmacists and their students may lead to establish a suitable clinical research team in the future.…”