Analysis of the level of awareness and attitude of pharmacy assistants to the continuous professional development in Ukraine

Continuing professional development (CPD) is an important tool for maintaining and improving the competencies of healthcare professionals. However, the level of awareness, motivation, and participation of pharmacy assistants in CPD activities remains insufficiently studied. Aim. To analyze the level of awareness and attitude of pharmacy assistants to the modern CPD system in Ukraine, assess their motivation and involvement in CPD activities with an emphasis on existing challenges in building their own professional portfolioі, find out the sources of information and formats of CPD activities used by pharmacy assistants. Materials and methods. The study used the literature review, desk analysis, and a sociological survey using the questionnaire method. The data were collected at the Institute for Advanced Training of Pharmacy Specialists (IAPTS) of the National University of Pharmacy (NPhU) among participants of advanced training courses during 2025. The data obtained were processed using descriptive statistics methods. The data were processed using Excel 2021 (Microsoft Corporation, USA). Results and discussion. The study involved 300 pharmacy assistants representing different types of pharmacy institutions and regions of Ukraine. Analysis of the responses revealed varying levels of awareness among pharmacy assistants regarding the concept of CPD: 43 % of survey participants had a good understanding of CPD, 32 % had a general idea, and 25 % were completely unfamiliar with it. Only 28 % maintained a portfolio systematically, and 33% of pharmacy assistants were aware of the requirements for the mandatory annual CPD credit points. Among the respondents, 25 % understood the mechanism of CPD point accrual, indicating insufficient awareness and creating a significant barrier to active participation in such events. The main barriers were lack of time (46 %), financial difficulties (22 %), and lack of information support. The majority of respondents (74 %) were willing to self-finance their training, preferring online (48 %) and hybrid (28 %) formats. Conclusions. The study results highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to CPD awareness, the implementation of digital learning tools, and the creation of conditions for the effective involvement of pharmacy assistants in CPD activities, especially in conditions of high workload and martial law.