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Isobel Cameron, MA, Dip Applied Psychometrics, is
research fellow
Catriona Matheson, PhD, MRPharmS, is senior research fellow
Christine Bond, PhD, FRPharmS, is professor of primary care
Department
of General Practice and Primary Care at the University of Aberdeen
Correspondence to:
Dr C. I. Matheson
Department
of General Practice and Primary Care
Foresterhill Health Centre
Westburn Road
Aberdeen
AB25 2AY |
Abstract
Aims
To explore community pharmacists' training needs for the provision of services to drug misusers.
Design
Cross-sectional survey.
Subjects and setting
Pharmacy managers of all registered community pharmacies in NHS Grampian,
Scotland (n=120).
Method
Administration of a self-completed postal questionnaire based on a previously
validated measure. Two reminders were sent out. Questions included previous
training in drug misuse, attitudes to developing motivational interviewing
skills and perceived training needs.
Results
99 pharmacists (82.5%) completed the questionnaire. 79 (80.6%) had experience
of dispensing methadone. Interest in learning motivational interviewing
skills was indicated by 67 pharmacists (67.7%). 53 pharmacists (53.5%)
had received previous professional training on the management of drug misuse;
70 (73.7%) wanted further professional training on drug misuse.
Conclusions
Pharmacists’ interest in learning motivational interviewing techniques
indicated that the feasibility of such training should be explored. Despite
a high proportion of respondents dispensing methadone, almost half had
not received professional training on the management of drug misuse. Community
pharmacists are interested in receiving more training on this topic and
local provision of specialist training should be considered.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal