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Primary care education in undergraduate pharmacy programs in Japan: A nationwide content analysis of publicly available syllabi.

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Title: Primary care education in undergraduate pharmacy programs in Japan: A nationwide content analysis of publicly available syllabi.
Authors: Kiuchi S; Midori Pharmacy, Tokyo, Japan; CrossHealth, Tokyo, Japan; Institute for Pharmaceutical and Social Health Sciences, Ise, Japan., Yamazaki M; Institute for Pharmaceutical and Social Health Sciences, Ise, Japan; Laboratory of Community Pharmaceutical Practice and Science, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan; Welcia Yakkyoku Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan., Hakariya H; Institute for Pharmaceutical and Social Health Sciences, Ise, Japan; Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address: hayase.hakariya@uni-tuebingen.de.
Source: Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning [Curr Pharm Teach Learn] 2026 Oct; Vol. 18 (10), pp. 102641. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 13.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101560815 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1877-1300 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 18771297 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Curr Pharm Teach Learn Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: New York : Elsevier
MeSH Terms: Curriculum*/trends , Curriculum*/standards , Primary Health Care*/trends , Education, Pharmacy*/methods , Education, Pharmacy*/standards , Education, Pharmacy*/statistics & numerical data , Education, Pharmacy*/trends, Japan ; Humans
Abstract: Japan's rapidly aging and shrinking population threatens the sustainability of community healthcare. Primary care (PC) is central to addressing this challenge, with pharmacists recognized as key contributors. However, the extent to which PC has been incorporated into pharmacy education across Japan remains unclear. This nationwide study aimed to examine PC integration across pharmacy programs, and to identify future directions for curriculum development to strengthen the pharmacists' role in community-based care. Towards this goal, a keyword-based content analysis of 81 universities and colleges with pharmacy departments in Japan was performed. Syllabi for the 2024 academic year were retrieved from official websites and screened for the keyword "Primary care". Course type and syllabus components referencing PC were extracted. Of the 81 institutions, 63 (77.8%) had accessible syllabi. Among these, 49 (77.8%) included PC in ≥1 course(s), whereas 14 (22.2%) did not. The number of PC-related courses among institutions was as follows: national universities (n = 15); public universities (n = 3); and private universities (n = 154). Learning objectives were the most frequent syllabus component describing PC (≥50% across groups), whereas national and public universities more often included PC in course descriptions, and private universities in course schedules. 7 (14.3%) universities listed PC only in their practical training courses, underscoring the key role of preceptors in PC education. Despite national curricular guidelines, variations remain in the integration of PC education across Japanese pharmacy schools. Strengthening curriculum design, developing educational resources, and enhancing preceptor training may help advance PC education and prepare pharmacists for evolving community healthcare needs.
(Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Community healthcare; Curricula; Japan; Pharmacy education; Primary care
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260713 Date Completed: 20260817 Latest Revision: 20260817
Update Code: 20260818
DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2026.102641
PMID: 42442181
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Primary care education in undergraduate pharmacy programs in Japan: A nationwide content analysis of publicly available syllabi.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Kiuchi+S%22">Kiuchi S</searchLink>; Midori Pharmacy, Tokyo, Japan; CrossHealth, Tokyo, Japan; Institute for Pharmaceutical and Social Health Sciences, Ise, Japan.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Yamazaki+M%22">Yamazaki M</searchLink>; Institute for Pharmaceutical and Social Health Sciences, Ise, Japan; Laboratory of Community Pharmaceutical Practice and Science, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan; Welcia Yakkyoku Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Hakariya+H%22">Hakariya H</searchLink>; Institute for Pharmaceutical and Social Health Sciences, Ise, Japan; Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address: hayase.hakariya@uni-tuebingen.de.
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  Data: Japan's rapidly aging and shrinking population threatens the sustainability of community healthcare. Primary care (PC) is central to addressing this challenge, with pharmacists recognized as key contributors. However, the extent to which PC has been incorporated into pharmacy education across Japan remains unclear. This nationwide study aimed to examine PC integration across pharmacy programs, and to identify future directions for curriculum development to strengthen the pharmacists' role in community-based care. Towards this goal, a keyword-based content analysis of 81 universities and colleges with pharmacy departments in Japan was performed. Syllabi for the 2024 academic year were retrieved from official websites and screened for the keyword "Primary care". Course type and syllabus components referencing PC were extracted. Of the 81 institutions, 63 (77.8%) had accessible syllabi. Among these, 49 (77.8%) included PC in ≥1 course(s), whereas 14 (22.2%) did not. The number of PC-related courses among institutions was as follows: national universities (n = 15); public universities (n = 3); and private universities (n = 154). Learning objectives were the most frequent syllabus component describing PC (≥50% across groups), whereas national and public universities more often included PC in course descriptions, and private universities in course schedules. 7 (14.3%) universities listed PC only in their practical training courses, underscoring the key role of preceptors in PC education. Despite national curricular guidelines, variations remain in the integration of PC education across Japanese pharmacy schools. Strengthening curriculum design, developing educational resources, and enhancing preceptor training may help advance PC education and prepare pharmacists for evolving community healthcare needs.<br /> (Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
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  Data: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests.
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  Data: <i>Keywords: </i>Community healthcare; Curricula; Japan; Pharmacy education; Primary care
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