RPS Conference 2010, Abstracts 2010 - Royal Pharmaceutical Society
RPS Conference 2010, Abstracts 2010 - Royal Pharmaceutical Society
RPS Conference 2010, Abstracts 2010 - Royal Pharmaceutical Society
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94<br />
Pharmacy prescribing in XXXX-a qualitative assessment<br />
Laura McCann 1 , Carmel Hughes 1 , Fran Lloyd 2 , Sharon Haughey 1 , Carole Parsons 1 , Grainne<br />
Crealey 3 , Gerry Gormley 4<br />
1 School of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Belfast, United Kingdom, 2 Northern Ireland Centre for<br />
Pharmacy Learning and Development, Queen's University, Belfast, United Kingdom, 3 Clinical<br />
Research Support Centre, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, United Kingdom,<br />
4 Department of General Practice and Primary Care, School of Medicine, Dentistry and<br />
Biomedical Sciences, Belfast, United Kingdom<br />
Focal Points<br />
• This study sought to provide an in depth understanding of pharmacist<br />
prescribing via semi-structured interviews with pharmacist prescribers in XXXX.<br />
• Improved patient care and elevated status within the health care team were<br />
reported<br />
• Further work is needed on the impact of pharmacist prescribing on patient<br />
outcomes.<br />
Introduction The drive for non-medical prescribing has progressed quickly since the late 1990’s<br />
and currently involves a range of health care professionals including pharmacists 1 . A number of<br />
early findings on this form of practice have been reported, such as increased job satisfaction,<br />
greater recognition and time-saving by prescribers, but this was tempered by financial and<br />
organisational problems 2 . As part of a commissioned research project, this qualitative study<br />
(Phase 2 of a 3 phase study) focused on qualified pharmacist prescribers. The aim of this study<br />
was to provide an in depth understanding of pharmacist prescribing from the perspective of<br />
pharmacist prescribers.<br />
Method Fifty three pharmacists from a potential of 76 pharmacist prescribers (who completed a<br />
questionnaire in an earlier phase) agreed to participate in phase 2. A maximum variation<br />
sample of pharmacists (11 from 53; working in range of practice settings and clinical areas)<br />
were randomly selected to participate in semi-structured interviews (1 previous, 6 current, 4<br />
never]. All 11 pharmacists were invited to participate in one-to-one semi-structured interviews<br />
(ethical approval granted). Interviews took place at participants’ work sites (January <strong>2010</strong>),<br />
were audio taped, transcribed verbatim, read independently by the authors and analysed using<br />
thematic analysis.<br />
Results: Five pharmacist interviews have been completed and transcribed to date. The<br />
remaining 6 interviews have taken place and transcription is underway. Pharmacist participants<br />
(2 female, 3 male) varied in terms of their prescribing activities with 2 currently prescribing (CP)<br />
and 3 who had never prescribed (NP). Themes which emerged were perceived improved<br />
patient care, and a more positive professional experience. A number of barriers (financial and<br />
workload) to implementation of pharmacist prescribing were also reported by those who had<br />
never prescribed. Table 1 provides supporting quotes which illustrate these themes: