The clinical pharmacist and research.

The question of whether or not clinical pharmacists are capable of performing meaningful research is addressed by reviewing the qualifications necessary for anyone to pursue an independent research career and by examining the current education and training of most clinical pharmacists. The types of research which appear to be best suited for clinical pharmacists include preclinical or clinical evaluations of basic science principles potentially affecting the therapeutic use of drugs in man, or the evaluation of clinical characteristics which alter the response to drugs in routine clinical use. It is concluded that clinical pharmacists with the appropriate postgraduate training and/or experience are capable of conducting meaningful research, and this is documented by current literature citations.