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Sarah Warchal, MPharm, is a preregistration pharmacy
graduate
David Brown, PhD, MRPharmS, is professor of pharmacy practice
Jane
Portlock, PhD, MRPharmS, is postgraduate course leader at the University
of Portsmouth School of Pharmacy
Mark Tomlin,
MSc, MRPharmS, is critical care pharmacist at Southampton General
Hospital.
Correspondence to: David Brown, School
of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Portsmouth, St
Michael’s Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth
PO1 2DT
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Abstract
Aim
To ascertain whether successfully completing a supplementary prescribing
(SP) course can empower pharmacists in terms of their extended roles
Design
Postal questionnaire and telephone interview.
Subjects and setting
38 pharmacist supplementary prescribers, selected by purposive sampling,
who completed a supplementary prescribing course in the UK between October
2004 and March 2005.
Outcome measures
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of respondents’ written comments,
validated and enriched by telephone interview.
Results
Subjects undertook a course mainly for reasons of personal development
and to benefit patients (>80%); most were positive about their course.
Overall, subjects emerged from their courses in confident mood to start
their new role and were engaged in SP for a wide range of therapeutic areas.
A number of barriers to role development were identified, notably in community
pharmacy, where time and lack of access to patient medical records were
particular problems. A feeling of lack of support was prevalent among primary
care trust pharmacists. Hospital pharmacists had written the most SP prescriptions
in the previous month and appeared to be facing fewer obstacles. A clear
majority (>80%) were in favour of progressing to independent prescribing
and allowing greater prescribing powers for other health care professionals.
Conclusions
This study provides evidence that SP qualification can empower practising
pharmacists, but that due consideration should be given to providing a
supportive environment in which to practise.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal