УДК 378.046-021.68:615.15(045) Significance of Informal Education in Postgraduate Studies of the Pharmacy Specialists and the Possible Ways of its Implementation

Abstract

Nowadays, in order to assure the improvement of providing pharmaceutical aid to the population, the role of the pharmaceutical worker is significantly expanded and there is a need for his/her systematic continuous professional development. Suggested by the institutions of postgraduate studies system of pre-certification cycles of thematic improvement is already insufficient. Hence the increasing emphasis of professional development opportunities is shifting towards non-formal and informal education. In order to find the ways to solve this problem, the existing Ukrainian legislative and regulatory framework in the field of continuous professional development of health care professionals and specialized channels, sources, other opportunities for self-educational activity in the field of informal education of pharmacy professionals was studied, characterized and analysed. The analysis of existing publications highlights the main problems that can arise while using the modern smart learning tools, including in particular the distance learning implementation. It is found out that most of the sources and channels of self-development need the personal skills of mastering smart learning tools, which is why it is proposed to expand the possibilities of using the innovative educational technologies in the system of continuous professional self-improvement of pharmaceutical workers.