Line Guénette1,2,3, Anne Maheu4,5, Marie-Claude Vanier5,6, Nicolas Dugré5,7, Léonie Rouleau5, Lyne Lalonde5. 1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada. 2. Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Quebec, QC, Canada. 3. Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, QC, Canada. 4. Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, GMF-U Bordeaux-Cartierville, Montréal, QC, Canada. 5. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada. 6. Centre Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CISSS) de Laval, GMF-U Cité de la santé de Laval, Montréal, QC, Canada. 7. Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, GMF-U Sacré-Cœur, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Abstract
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Pharmacists' responsibilities and practices have expanded over the years to be more clinical. Working in other settings and collaborating with other healthcare professionals can lead to new needs that are unmet by actual training. This study was performed to describe the characteristics and practices of pharmacists working in family medicine groups (FMGs) and to assess their needs to develop a practice-based network fostering best practices. METHODS: A Quebec province-wide cross-sectional study was performed from May to August 2018. Pharmacists practising in FMGs were identified through phone calls to all listed FMGs and via direct emails. All identified pharmacists were emailed an invitation to complete an online questionnaire comprising questions to assess their sociodemographic characteristics, to describe their FMG and to assess their needs to reach an optimal practice. The link to the questionnaire was also publicized in a Facebook group of FMG pharmacists and by several professional organizations. A descriptive analysis was performed and discussed with two committees: a working group of FMG pharmacists and an advisory committee comprising key stakeholders. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 299 FMG pharmacists were identified, and 178 (59.5%) completed the online questionnaire. Most were women (71.9%), were less than 40 years old (71.9%) and also practised as community pharmacists (76.4%). Reviewing medication to optimize pharmacotherapy and answering questions related to specific issues were the most frequent activities, with 86.0% and 90.4% of pharmacists, respectively, reporting that they performed these often or very often. The most frequently mentioned needs were training and mentorship adapted to the FMG practice and improvement in the understanding that other healthcare professionals have about the role of the FMG pharmacist. Performing comprehensive medication assessments and developing thorough pharmaceutical care plans were among the clinical competencies that pharmacists wanted to develop. Scientific and interprofessional communication was also among the abilities they wished to optimize. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This study provided unique information about pharmacists practising in FMGs and elicited several needs. The results will inform the development of a practice-based network aimed at fulfilling these needs.
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Pharmacists' responsibilities and practices have expanded over the years to be more clinical. Working in other settings and collaborating with other healthcare professionals can lead to new needs that are unmet by actual training. This study was performed to describe the characteristics and practices of pharmacists working in family medicine groups (FMGs) and to assess their needs to develop a practice-based network fostering best practices. METHODS: A Quebec province-wide cross-sectional study was performed from May to August 2018. Pharmacists practising in FMGs were identified through phone calls to all listed FMGs and via direct emails. All identified pharmacists were emailed an invitation to complete an online questionnaire comprising questions to assess their sociodemographic characteristics, to describe their FMG and to assess their needs to reach an optimal practice. The link to the questionnaire was also publicized in a Facebook group of FMG pharmacists and by several professional organizations. A descriptive analysis was performed and discussed with two committees: a working group of FMG pharmacists and an advisory committee comprising key stakeholders. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 299 FMG pharmacists were identified, and 178 (59.5%) completed the online questionnaire. Most were women (71.9%), were less than 40 years old (71.9%) and also practised as community pharmacists (76.4%). Reviewing medication to optimize pharmacotherapy and answering questions related to specific issues were the most frequent activities, with 86.0% and 90.4% of pharmacists, respectively, reporting that they performed these often or very often. The most frequently mentioned needs were training and mentorship adapted to the FMG practice and improvement in the understanding that other healthcare professionals have about the role of the FMG pharmacist. Performing comprehensive medication assessments and developing thorough pharmaceutical care plans were among the clinical competencies that pharmacists wanted to develop. Scientific and interprofessional communication was also among the abilities they wished to optimize. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This study provided unique information about pharmacists practising in FMGs and elicited several needs. The results will inform the development of a practice-based network aimed at fulfilling these needs.
Authors: Piotr Merks; Urszula Religioni; Aleksandra Howell; Marvin Munzu; Edwin Panford-Quainoo; Agnieszka Neumann-Podczaska; Radosław Jaskólski; Beata Kaczmarek; Justyna Kaźmierczak; Eliza Blicharska; Paweł Olczyk; Agnieszka Barańska; Magdalena Waszyk-Nowaczyk; Jerzy Krysiński Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-25 Impact factor: 4.614