Exploring the Hotspots and Milestones-Driven Evolution in Interprofessional Education in Pharmacy Using Bibliometric Analysis

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background : Interprofessional education (IPE) has gained significant traction in developed countries as a vital strategy for preparing healthcare professionals equipped for collaborative practice. It has also become an essential component of pharmacy education accreditation. Although there is ample evidence highlighting its positive impact on learners’ competencies and patient care, a comprehensive synthesis of the dominant contributors, thematic structures, promising trends, and milestone-driven evolution of IPE in pharmacy education is lacking.
Methods : We conducted a bibliometric analysis of IPE in pharmacy education using the Web of Science (WoS), employing the Biblioshiny web-based app and VOSviewer software. To identify turning points in yearly production trends and key milestones in the USA, we selected 2009, 2016, and 2020 as critical cut-off points for developing a thematic evolution map.
Results : As of May 23, 2024, there are 3,795 peer-reviewed articles on WoS related to IPE in pharmacy education, with the United States leading in production, citations, and growth rate. It is at the center of the collaboration network, with the most influential author and four of the top five relevant affiliations also based in the USA. The term “community pharmacy” is the most frequently mentioned and relates to various themes across different time periods. Analysis of trend topics and factorial themes reveals promising future areas, including emergency departments (ED), artificial intelligence (AI), escape rooms, pharmacogenomics, simulation, and experiential learning.
Conclusion : Education practitioners in developing countries can learn from the milestones achieved in the USA, such as the establishment of IPE organizations and the integration of IPE into pharmacy accreditation guidelines, which can help accelerate the evolution of IPE. Community pharmacy presents a well-established environment for implementing IPE activities. Promising future hotspots include pharmacogenomics and ED as practice sites, along with escape rooms and AI as innovative learning strategies, and simulation and experiential learning as comprehensive educational approaches.