The Journey

Introduction

When exploring a medical reference, I always begin by reading the preface.

• This is where I learn about the origin of the reference, why the author wrote it, and how it is structured.

I recall the preface to the Sarawak Handbook of Medical Emergencies.

• It started as a small handbook of guidelines for the treatment of medical emergencies, written by a medical officer in a district hospital to address the lack of simple yet reliable resources.
• Years later, it became widely used in many government hospitals across Malaysia.

Similarly, many valuable references have evolved from compilations of lecture notes, becoming more comprehensive and widely recognized with each edition, such as Toronto Notes, Rang & Dale's Pharmacology and Symptoms in the Pharmacy.

The Origins

During my provisional registered year, a senior gave me a valuable piece of advice: "If you appreciate the help we have given you now, pass down what you have learned to your juniors in the future."

• In fact, this is exactly what my senior's senior had told them.
• In many ways, this inspired me to create a pharmacy information-sharing blog for provisional registered pharmacists in Malaysia in October 2020.

While I may not have the extensive experience of many senior pharmacists, I firmly believe that small beginnings can lead to big dreams. This very belief serves as the inspiration behind Rx Note.

• Rx Note aims to be a pioneering platform for sharing pharmacy information, specifically addressing the significant unmet needs of fresh pharmacy graduates entering the field.
• By sharing my knowledge, insights and experiences, I hope to help young pharmacists kickstart their journey and inspire them to become better.
• Even if the blog does not make a massive impact on the pharmacy filed, that is completely fine.

"Life is like peeing into the snow on a dark winter night. You probably made a difference, but it's really hard to tell." - Joe Wong.

Content

This blog is drafted based on my readings, personal experiences and thoughts throughout my pharmacist journey (although I still consider myself a bit of a "small potato" in the field).

• Unlike a university syllabus or a standard medical textbook, I do not place much emphasis on the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics, choosing instead to focus on practical applications.
• Even so, you will often notice me delving deeply into certain foundational concepts of pharmacy.
• There are many useful pharmacy books on the market, and it is crucial to learn the subject systematically to build a strong foundation.
• Therefore, I write with the assumption that you already understand basics, such as receptor agonists and antagonist, or what is meant by anticholinergic side effects.

Ultimately, this blog is intended to be a self-directed learning module that bridges the gap between the clinical foundation you built during university years and daily clinical practice.

• If you ever take the time to review your old university notes, you might be surprised by how many of these concepts you actually learned before, but have since forgotten.
• Furthermore, university courses often provide a surface-level understanding without diving into the deeper nuances of real-world practice.

While I did consider including real product recommendations for community pharmacy topics, I decided against it to avoid potential bias in brand recommendation.

• Instead, I highly encourage fresh pharmacy graduates to explore their local community pharmacies and familiarize themselves with the available product ranges to reinforce what they learn from this blog.

Please keep in mind that everything written here is for information-sharing purposes only and has not been proofread by a third party.

• Medical practices are constantly evolving, with new guidelines released every year, so the information shared is only accurate at the time of writing.
• Always take it with a grain of salt.

NOTE: Ultimately, the motivation to improve skills and knowledge rests with each individual pharmacist.

Over the Years and The Challenges Ahead

The Rx Note blog has grown from few basic pharmacy posts into a self-proclaimed comprehensive resource.

• However, I sometimes worry that this growth may overwhelm fresh provisional registered pharmacists who may not know where to start.
• A colleague reminded me, though, that these pharmacists will eventually gain experience and become seniors.
• We should expect them to learn more, thereby fostering a stronger foundation for their growth and success.

The true challenge lies in the sustained effort required to refine and perfect a resource like this, particularly when there is little personal incentive.

• Reflecting on my past writings, I often realize that I may have overlooked important details or perspectives, or simply forgotten to mention them, prompting necessary revisions.
• The pursuit of perfection is an ongoing journey.

As a practicing pharmacist, I may have forgotten some of the struggles faced by junior pharmacists.

• Their limited experience can hinder clinical decision-making, meaning they require additional guidance and support.
• What exactly do junior pharmacists seek from learning modules?
• Should the topics be more product-oriented or focus on soft skills?
• Is the information in blog posts accurate, unbiased and up-to-date?
• Plus, given the availability of AI chatbots, is a traditional pharmacy resource website still relevant for guiding future pharmacists?

Despite these questions, I am reminded that there are countless dedicated pharmacists across various facilities who continuously invest in fostering the next generation with unwavering commitment.

Summary

While the realm of knowledge is vast and infinite, my own understanding is quite limited.

• Each time I transition to a new pharmacy station, I am humbled by the realization of how much I still have to learn. There are countless facets of pharmacy practice that I have yet to encounter.
• Every time I attend a Continuing Medical Education (CME) talk, I realize there is always more to learn so I can update my knowledge and improve my future patient encounters.
• Sometimes, it feels as though I am a novice sharing my limited insights, while the true experts remain silent.
• Therefore, I warmly welcome any suggestions, improvements or collaborative opportunities. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

If you enjoy the content, please feel free to share it with your friends and colleagues.