Assessing resilience in pharmacy education during the COVID-19 era

In higher education, resilience is vital for enabling students and academics to confront challenges and sustain well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified concerns about how individuals in higher education, including in pharmacy education, adapt to drastic shifts in societal, economic, and educational contexts. This study aimed to explore resilience in pharmacy higher education within the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2020 to January 2021, involving pharmacy students and academics across the 22 EMR countries. Data collection utilised an online questionnaire, that included, along with demographic and environmental items, the CD-RISC-22 scale, a modified version of the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25). CD-RISC-22 is a 22 items, a self-administered psychometric scale, tailored to assess resilience among pharmacy students and academics in EMR region. Data were analysed using descriptive and comparative statistical methods. Students exhibited a significantly lower resilience scores (mean ± SD: 58.81 ± 13.41) when compared with academic staff/faculty (66.74 ± 10.29) across all constructs of the CD-RISC-22 scale (p < 0.000), with the exception of the 'connection/spirituality' factor (p = 0.1). The availability of mental health support services in educational institutions was found to be limited, with only 13 (10.7%) academic respondents reporting access to a mental health advisory scheme and 88 (17.7%) of students reporting access to mental health and well-being support training. Academics and students felt more supported by their colleagues and peers than by their institutions. This research sheds light on the variations in resilience levels between pharmacy students and academics in the EMR, emphasising the need for targeted interventions to enhance undergraduate students' resilience.