Cross-sectional studies in prescribing research

Assessment of Texan pharmacists' attitudes, behaviors, and preferences related to continuing pharmacy education

BACKGROUND

Whether the available Continuing Education (CE) programs meet pharmacists' continuously increasing needs and preferences is open to question.

OBJECTIVES

to investigate pharmacists' perceptions and attitudes concerning available CE programs, evaluate the pharmacists' choices with regard to selecting among different CE programs, and investigate the factors that are associated with preference to utilize online CE programs.

METHOD

A 17-question survey was developed and mailed to a random sample of 600 Texan pharmacists. In addition to collecting basic demographic information, the survey investigated pharmacists' choices with regard to delivery and content of CE programs, motivations to participation in CE programs, and pharmacists' preferences for future CE programs.

RESULTS

A total of 161 pharmacists completed the survey and mailed back their responses. Excluding the 75 undeliverable surveys, the response rate was 31%. Approximately 83% of respondents found that currently available CE programs met their educational needs. The most important factors influencing pharmacists' choices with regard to CE programs were the scope programs, the location where programs are held, and the cost associated with enrolling in such programs. Online CE was the most preferred mode of CE among participants. The factors that were associated with pharmacists' preferences to complete 50% or more of required CE through online programs were previous use of online CE programs, preference to limit the duration of CE programs to 1 or 2 hour-long, and perceived ability to find adequate CE programs among currently available CE programs.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest modalities for CE programs providers on how to improve CE programs in the future in order to meet the preferences of local pharmacists.

The increasing role of pharmacists in antimicrobial stewardship in English hospitals

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the development of pharmacist-led antimicrobial stewardship activities in English hospitals.

METHODS

Distribution of an electronic questionnaire to antimicrobial pharmacists or chief pharmacists in National Health Service hospitals in England.

RESULTS

Since a previous study, in 2005, overall numbers of specialist antimicrobial pharmacists, and their levels of experience, had increased. Over 95% of hospitals provided empirical usage guidance, antimicrobial formularies and surgical prophylaxis guidelines. Two-thirds of pharmacy departments provided antimicrobial usage reports in terms of defined daily doses at least yearly, and over 80% conducted yearly antimicrobial point prevalence studies. The vast majority of pharmacy departments indicated a willingness to supply data and audit results to a national database for benchmarking purposes.

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing role of specialist pharmacists and general pharmacists in antibiotic stewardship in acute care in England has enabled hospitals to deliver on the antibiotic stewardship agenda, although opportunity remains to expand this role further and ensure greater multidisciplinary engagement.

Primary care pharmacist workforce mobility: why do pharmacists want to work in primary care and how do these reasons differ for community and hospital pharmacists?

Objective

The purpose of this study was to describe the migratory and working patterns of primary care pharmacists, to explore the reasons pharmacists changed jobs, and in particular to ascertain from which sector pharmacists moved into primary care.

Method

A self-completion postal questionnaire was used to gather quantitative data on current post and working practices and reasons for movement into the primary care sector, and semi-structured interviews to explore in more depth reasons for movement across sectors. Setting Primary care pharmacists in England in 2001.

Key findings

Just over half (52%) of the sample worked exclusively in primary care, having most likely left a post in hospital pharmacy, while almost half (48%) of the sample adopted a ‘portfolio’ pattern of working, where the primary care pharmacists have more than one job. This is most likely to be a locum position in community pharmacy. Pharmacists in this study were mostly attracted into primary care because they wanted to undertake more interesting work, make better use of their knowledge and get involved with the primary healthcare team. They left their previous place of work because they needed a change. The importance primary care pharmacists gave to each of these reasons differed, depending on the sector of employment they had left or continued to work in.

Conclusion

As a sector of practice, primary care is drawing pharmacists from both the community and hospital sectors of the profession. However, the impact on the hospital sector is more marked as pharmacists are leaving this sector completely, while primary care pharmacists are more likely to maintain their practice commitments in the much larger community sector.

Impact of the Hospital Pharmacy Initiative for promoting prudent use of antibiotics in hospitals in England

OBJECTIVES

In July 2003, the UK Department of Health announced an allocation of 12 million pounds sterling to hospital pharmacists to improve the monitoring and control of anti-infective use over the ensuing 3 year period (the Hospital Pharmacy Initiative, or HPI). Chief Pharmacists were asked to use this money for developments to promote prudent antibiotic use and monitoring of antimicrobials within their Trusts. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the HPI funding, which at the time had been in place for nearly 2 years, on pharmacy activities in this area.

METHODS

A postal questionnaire was sent to the pharmacy department of each acute hospital Trust in England, aiming to provide a descriptive overview of the activities of hospital pharmacy staff in the field of anti-infectives and to explore the extent to which these activities were made possible by the HPI funding.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-one specialist antimicrobial pharmacy staff were employed in 130 responding Trusts; 89% were pharmacists, 7% pharmacy technicians and the remainder administrative staff. Three-quarters of these staff had been employed due to the funding, resulting in review of antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, antibiotic audit projects and multidisciplinary work with Microbiology/Infectious Diseases staff. Thirteen Trusts gave details of drug acquisition cost savings; over the course of a year, these Trusts saved 1.1 million pounds sterling in total.

CONCLUSIONS

The HPI funding has facilitated greater interaction between Pharmacy and Microbiology/Infectious Diseases departments than was previously possible. Significant reductions in antibiotic acquisition costs have been demonstrated, though further work is warranted to fully establish the impact of pharmacy activities on clinical and microbiological outcomes.