Do Swedish universities educate future doctors and pharmacists about the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals?

OBJECTIVES

Residues of pharmaceuticals, originating from production, distribution or consumption, reach the environment where they have negative consequences on ecosystems. Educating future physicians and pharmacists could promote more environmentally friendly decisions throughout the life-cycle of pharmaceuticals. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe how pharmaceuticals in the environment was integrated into Swedish universities' medicine and pharmacy educations.

METHODS

The study was conducted November-December 2022 and consisted of two parts; i) a review of program curricula for medicine and pharmacy programs in Sweden and ii) a questionnaire distributed to course managers at pharmacy programs, and to program managers at medicine programs. Multiple-choice questions were analysed with descriptive statistics. Open-ended questions and program curricula were assessed qualitatively with content analysis.

RESULTS

Pharmaceuticals in the environment was mentioned in the general learning objectives aligned with the Higher Education Ordinance, but content related to environment was only included in curricula for some courses, mainly regarding sustainable development. A total of 47/100 pharmacy course managers and 6/7 medicine program managers responded to the questionnaire. 19/47 pharmacy course managers and 6/6 medicine program managers indicated that their courses include aspects of pharmaceuticals in the environment. The most common areas in pharmacy courses were sustainable drug use, and sustainable drug manufacturing/development.

CONCLUSIONS

Sweden's medicine and pharmacy programs contain some education about environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals but the curricula could be developed further. There is room for improvement in integrating environmental themes throughout the programs, potentially as an interprofessional education with a life-cycle perspective of pharmaceuticals.