The second edition of Pharmacy: An Introduction to the Profession provides a background of the history, opportunities, and current issues in pharmacy practice. Intended to be used as a textbook for pharmacy orientation courses, it offers general insights and pharmacy background information for those exploring a career in pharmacy.
The “core knowledge” provided by Posey is captured in 11 chapters, which cover the following topics: introduction; history; pharmaceutical care and medication therapy management; communication; ethics; careers; oversight; pharmacy associations; pharmacy literature; postgraduate opportunities; and current issues. Each chapter describes the topic from a birds eye view, keeping the novice audience in mind. A glossary and index are included at the back of the book to familiarize readers with terms and content.
The author is sincere in his efforts to keep the content current and yet at a level for students who are new to the profession. The provision of definitions in the margins is an effective way to introduce pharmacy vocabulary to students. Occasionally the author's focus on current issues may come at the expense of providing a more thorough examination of the chapter topic. For example, the chapter on governmental oversight discusses “behind the counter” classification of drugs, yet limits its description of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), its structure, and scope.
Posey's association with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is evident throughout the book. It is appropriate to highlight APhA's role in supporting and advancing the practice of pharmacy, and the resources provided by APhA are referenced in several sections. Similar to the first edition, Posey devotes a significant portion of the book to reprints of recent articles in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. Sixty-five pages of the final chapter of this edition are reprints of JAPhA articles about medication therapy management.
Changes in the structure of the textbook may improve its utility and appeal for students considering a career in pharmacy. Adding a set of objectives at the beginning of each chapter may help guide the reader, and the author, as they proceed through the content. Pharmacy is a dynamic profession, giving the author opportunities to challenge the reader to further examine an issue, or think critically about a topic. A few enrichment exercises at the end of each chapter would engage the reader to be a more active participant in his or her career exploration. In addition, visual aids (pictures, diagrams, tables) could be used more liberally to reduce the text-heavy format of the book.
Pharmacy: An Introduction to the Profession can be a useful component of a pharmacy orientation course. As the author states, its utility relies on lectures and presenters to flesh out the introductory experience for students. Classroom discussions following assigned chapters can help students understand the intricacies of pharmacy practice and gain insights into their chosen career. Its reasonable price and broad approach make it worth considering for a prepharmacy introductory textbook.