A call for social accountability within pharmacy education: Concepts, relevance, and accreditation

Jennifer L Prisco; Thomas W Laudone; Nicole L Keuler; Renier Coetzee

doi:10.1016/j.cptl.2023.03.001

A call for social accountability within pharmacy education: Concepts, relevance, and accreditation

Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2023 Mar;15(3):231-233. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2023.03.001. Epub 2023 Apr 11.

Authors

Jennifer L Prisco¹, Thomas W Laudone², Nicole L Keuler³, Renier Coetzee⁴

Affiliations

¹ Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, 179 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States. Electronic address: Jennifer.prisco@mcphs.edu.
² University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, 20 N. Pine Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States. Electronic address: tlaudone@rx.umaryland.edu.
³ University of the Western Cape, School of Pharmacy, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7535, South Africa. Electronic address: nnkeuler@uwc.ac.za.
⁴ University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7535, South Africa. Electronic address: recoetzee@uwc.ac.za.

PMID: 37055318
DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2023.03.001

Abstract

Introduction: Social accountability (SA) is a leap to excellence in health education. While pharmacists are ideally situated in the healthcare setting to practice SA through research, service, and practice, SA is underrepresented in pharmacy education.

Commentary: Here the foundational concepts of SA, the relevance to pharmacy education, as well as the accreditation considerations for the implementation of SA are discussed.

Implications: There is a need for SA to be implemented in pharmacy education to address health equity, quality, and improve patient health outcomes.

Keywords: Equity; Pharmacy education; Population-health; Social accountability.

MeSH terms

Accreditation
Delivery of Health Care
Education, Pharmacy*
Health Education
Humans
Social Responsibility