Nicole Mittmann1, Sandra Knowles. 1. HOPE Research Centre, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada. nicole.mittmann@sunnybrook.ca
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committees have traditionally evaluated and developed policies for the clinical use of medications and for ensuring safe and effective drug use and administration. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the current activities of hospital P&T committees across Canada. METHODS: Surveys were mailed to 856 (693 English, 163 French translations) Canadian hospitals (acute, chronic or rehabilitation) across Canada. Questions consisted of information on P&T membership, scope and responsibilities. Completed surveys were returned by fax. All data was entered into Excel and analyzed for descriptive statistics. RESULTS: 123 surveys were returned, representing 207 hospitals, for an effective response rate of 24%. Four hospitals returned incomplete surveys. Surveys were returned from all areas of Canada, except the territories. On average, P&T committees met six times per year. The average size of the committees was 11 members, with physicians comprising half the membership. Pharmacists and nurses had equal representation; other members were community representatives, dieticians, quality assurance personnel and/or administrators. The top responsibilities of the P&T committee were inpatient formulary management (93% of respondents), drug-use policy making (92%), adverse drug reaction monitoring (83%), patient safety (80%) and drug-use monitoring (80%). Subcommittees were utilized by 46% of P&T committees including antimicrobial (38%), medication safety (25%) and nutrition (14%). Economic evaluations were most frequently completed by a pharmacist who had some previous pharmacoeconomic experience. CONCLUSION: This survey reports on the current status and responsibilities, namely formulary management and policy making, of P&T committees in Canada.
BACKGROUND: Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committees have traditionally evaluated and developed policies for the clinical use of medications and for ensuring safe and effective drug use and administration. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the current activities of hospital P&T committees across Canada. METHODS: Surveys were mailed to 856 (693 English, 163 French translations) Canadian hospitals (acute, chronic or rehabilitation) across Canada. Questions consisted of information on P&T membership, scope and responsibilities. Completed surveys were returned by fax. All data was entered into Excel and analyzed for descriptive statistics. RESULTS: 123 surveys were returned, representing 207 hospitals, for an effective response rate of 24%. Four hospitals returned incomplete surveys. Surveys were returned from all areas of Canada, except the territories. On average, P&T committees met six times per year. The average size of the committees was 11 members, with physicians comprising half the membership. Pharmacists and nurses had equal representation; other members were community representatives, dieticians, quality assurance personnel and/or administrators. The top responsibilities of the P&T committee were inpatient formulary management (93% of respondents), drug-use policy making (92%), adverse drug reaction monitoring (83%), patient safety (80%) and drug-use monitoring (80%). Subcommittees were utilized by 46% of P&T committees including antimicrobial (38%), medication safety (25%) and nutrition (14%). Economic evaluations were most frequently completed by a pharmacist who had some previous pharmacoeconomic experience. CONCLUSION: This survey reports on the current status and responsibilities, namely formulary management and policy making, of P&T committees in Canada.
Authors: Natasha Burke; James M Bowen; Sue Troyan; Jathishinie Jegathisawaran; Carolyn Gosse; Marita Tonkin; Sandra Kagoma; Ron Goeree; Anne Holbrook Journal: Can J Hosp Pharm Date: 2016-06-30