International Journal of Pharmacy Teaching & Practices 2013, Vol.4, Issue 1, 516-521. 516 Skills Acquired during Baccalaureate Degree: Evaluation Study among Practicing Pharmacists in Sudan. Abuabker Elbur 1*, Yousif MA 1 , Elbur AI 1 , Bin Shahna M 1 , Izham MI 2 , Taib NS 3 , Elmustafa MO 4 , Abdoon S 5 , Ibrahim M 6 1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy; College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Saudi Arabia. 2. College of Pharmacy, Qator University, Doha , Qator. 3. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gezira, Sudan. 4. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gezira, Sudan 5. WHO office, Sudan. 6. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gezira, Sudan. Research Article Please cite this paper as: Abuabker Elbur 1*, Yousif MA 1 , Elbur AI 1 , Bin Shahna M 1 , Izham MI 2 , Taib NS 3 , Elmustafa MO 4 , Abdoon S 5 , Ibrahim M 6 . Skills Acquired during Baccalaureate Degree: Evaluation Study among Practicing Pharmacists in Sudan. IJPTP, 2013, 4(1), 516-521. Abstract Objective: The objective was to elicit the opinions of Sudanese practicing pharmacists about the skills acquired during their basic degree study period. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted during the period of May to August 2010 in Khartoum and Gezira states. A convenient random method of sampling was used. Results: Overall 495 pharmacists participated in the survey. Females 59.2%, younger pharmacists 94.8%, holders of Bachelor Degree of Pharmacy 80.8% and pharmacists working in private sector 72.3% were dominant. Drug dispensing 21.6%, monitoring patients’ therapeutic progress 21% and Public education 19.4% were the most skills that did not attained. The patients’ referral 28.1%, working with other health care providers 26.1%, ADRs monitoring 23.8% and patients’ counseling 21.6%, were the least used skills as reported by the participants. Conclusion: The study revealed that most of the Sudanese universities pay a little attention to train their graduates on different pharmacy practice skills. Keywords: Acquired skills, Baccalaureate Degree, Evaluation, Pharmacists, Sudan. Introduction The profession of pharmacy is continuing to undergo a dramatic shift in focus from product oriented to patient-centered care 1 . As a consequence; the mission of pharmacy education also shifted to educate pharmacists to provide services for safe drug preparation and distribution, collaborative drug therapy management, medication therapy management, and medication reconciliation 2 . The challenge for schools of pharmacy will therefore be to provide education that will qualify graduates with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to produce competent graduates able to change the currently available pharmacy practice 3 . The curriculum must produce graduates who have sufficient basic skills in all areas to be able to build on that fundamental knowledge over a lifetime of practice 3 . Communication skills are highly recommended to be included in the curriculum in order to produce a desirable graduate 4 . Interpersonal communication skills are important for pharmacists and are needed in counseling patients, communicating with physicians, or interfacing with associates 5 . So training of pharmacy students to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with other health care providers is mandatory 6 . Communication skills, for pharmacists are important to understand the patients and their health problems; gain the patient’s trust and engage patients to open up in their conversations 7 . Communication with patients includes understanding their concerns and beliefs, eliciting relevant information, and explaining options they can make informed decisions about treatment 8 . Appropriately written communication to physicians to resolve drug therapy problems can be an effective strategy for drug therapy changes 9 . Counseling patients regarding their medications is an important responsibility for pharmacists and an excellent learning opportunity for students 5 . Over the counter counseling is the most proper means in a pharmacist/patient communication process 10 . Positive outcomes can be achieved by educating and counseling patients to prepare and motivate them to comply with treatment and monitoring plans 11 . In addition to having the prerequisite clinical skills; Corresponding Author: Abuabker Elbur Department of Clinical Pharmacy; College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box: 888, Zip Code 21974 Al-Haweiah, Taif, KSA. Mobile phone: + 966541399649. E-mail: bakarelbu@yahoo.co.uk.