scholarly journals Implementation of pharmacist-led services in primary care: A mixed-methods exploration of pharmacists’ perceptions of a national educational resource package

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 2440
Author(s):  
Kate Preston ◽  
Natalie M. Weir ◽  
Tanja Mueller ◽  
Rosemary Newham ◽  
Marion Bennie
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Hard Copy ◽  
Educational Resource ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Job Experience ◽  
Clinical Pharmacists ◽  
Implementation Outcomes ◽  
Training Event ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
National Training

Background: To help alleviate the global pressure on primary care, there has been an increase in the number of clinical pharmacists within primary care. Educational resources are necessary to support this workforce and their development within this role. An educational resource package was developed in Scotland to support the General Practice Clinical Pharmacists (GPCPs), containing a hard copy Competency and Capability Framework (CCF), an online platform (TURAS) and both clinical and educational supervisors in 2016. Objective: To examine the implementation of a competency-based educational resource package through the exploration of pharmacists’ perceptions of its adoption, acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. Methods: Participants were GPCPs who had been part of a national training event between 2016 and 2018. The participants were given the opportunity to complete an online questionnaire or a semi-structured telephone interview. Both data collection tools were based on Proctor’s model of implementation outcomes: adoption, acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility. Areas covered included GPCPs’ perceptions and level of adoption of the educational resource package developed to support them in their role. Results: Of a potential 164 participants, 52 (31.7%) completed the questionnaire and 12 (7.3%) completed the interview. GPCPs indicated widespread adoption and were accepting of the resources; however, it was suggested that its value was undermined, as it was not associated with a qualification. The appropriateness and feasibility of the resources depended on GPCPs’ individual situation (including current role, previous job experience, time available, support received from peers and supervisors, and perceptions of resources available). Conclusions: The suitability of the CCF was evidenced by participants’ adoption and acceptance of the resource, indicating the necessity of a competence-based framework to support the GPCPs’ role. However, its suitability was hindered in terms of varied perceptions of appropriateness and feasibility. Despite the limited sample size, the results indicate that the value of these resources should be promoted across primary care; nevertheless further facilitation is required to allow GPCPs to fully engage with the resources.

PREP — The Preoperative Risk Education Package: an online educational resource for primary care clinicians to encourage community based prehabilitation prior to major surgery

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp18X697277
Author(s):  
James Durrand ◽  
F McHardy ◽  
E Land ◽  
Z Llewellyn ◽  
C Norman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Perioperative Risk ◽  
Perioperative Outcomes ◽  
Major Surgery ◽  
Educational Resource ◽  
Major Step ◽  
Early Evaluation ◽  
Risk Education ◽  
Primary Care Clinicians

BackgroundPrehabilitation prior to major surgery mandates cross-sector working. Utilising the preoperative window from referral requires clinician engagement. Awareness of perioperative risk factors is crucial. A national survey uncovered gaps in knowledge and understanding.AimCreate an open-access, online educational resource for primary care clinicians.MethodOur multidisciplinary team developed a focused CPD resource targeting lifestyle factors and chronic health conditions influencing perioperative risk (www.prepwell.co.uk).ResultsPREP highlights seven risk factors influencing perioperative risk: Smoking, alcohol, inactivity, anaemia, cognitive impairment, frailty and low BMI. A case study frames each factor alongside perioperative impact and prehabilitation strategies.ConclusionPREP is the first educational resource of its type. Early evaluation through local clinicians, the RCGP and RCOA has resulted in very positive feedback. We are working with Royal College representatives to gain formal endorsement and facilitate wider scale rollout, a major step towards raised clinician awareness and enhanced collaboration for improved perioperative outcomes.

scholarly journals Expanding the role of clinical pharmacists on interdisciplinary primary care teams for chronic pain and opioid management

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karleen F. Giannitrapani ◽  
Peter A. Glassman ◽  
Derek Vang ◽  
Jeremiah C. McKelvey ◽  
R. Thomas Day ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Clinical Pharmacists ◽  
Primary Care Teams

Benefits and Challenges of Using Virtual Primary Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Cross-sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edmond Li ◽  
Rosy Tsopra ◽  
Geronimo Jimenez ◽  
Alice Serafini ◽  
Gustavo Gusso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Remote Care

BACKGROUND With the onset of COVID-19, general practitioners (GPs) and patients worldwide swiftly transitioned from face-to-face to digital remote consultations. There is a need to evaluate how this global shift has impacted patient care, healthcare providers, patient and carer experience, and health systems. OBJECTIVE We explored GPs’ perspectives on the main benefits and challenges of using digital remote care. METHODS GPs across 20 countries completed an online questionnaire between June – September 2020. GPs’ perceptions on main barriers and challenges were explored using free-text questions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS A total of 1,605 respondents participated in our survey. The benefits identified included reducing COVID-19 transmission risks, guaranteeing access and continuity of care, improved efficiency, faster access to care, improved convenience and communication with patients, greater work flexibility for providers, and hastening the digital transformation of primary care and accompanying legal frameworks. Main challenges included patient’s preference for face-to-face consultations, digital exclusion, lack of physical examinations, clinical uncertainty, delays in diagnosis and treatment, overuse and misuse of digital remote care, and unsuitability for certain types of consultations. Other challenges include the lack of formal guidance, higher workloads, remuneration issues, organisational culture, technical difficulties, implementation and financial issues, and regulatory weaknesses. CONCLUSIONS At the frontline of care delivery, GPs can provide important insights on what worked well, why, and how during the pandemic. Lessons learned can be used to inform the adoption of improved virtual care solutions, and support the long-term development of platforms that are more technologically robust, secure. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/30099

Medicines management

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Wiffen ◽  
Marc Mitchell ◽  
Melanie Snelling ◽  
Nicola Stoner
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Electronic Prescribing ◽  
Medicines Management ◽  
Clinical Pharmacists ◽  
Supervisory Skills

This chapter outlines information relevant to clinical pharmacists related to medicines management. In particular, this chapter covers a variety of aspects for managing medicines, for example, formulary, unlicensed use, and medicines committees. It also includes guidance on standards and supervisory skills, as well as medicines safety and electronic prescribing. There are sections on non-medical prescribing, primary care, and roles of technicians.

Do-not-attempt-resuscitation (DNAR) orders: understanding and interpretation of their use in the hospitalised patient in Ireland. A brief report

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen O’Brien ◽  
Siobhan Scarlett ◽  
Anne Brady ◽  
Kieran Harkin ◽  
Rose Anne Kenny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Staff Nurses ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Hard Copy ◽  
Do Not Resuscitate ◽  
Nasogastric Feeding ◽  
Care Plans ◽  
Hospital Doctors

Following the introduction of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders in the 1970s, there was widespread misinterpretation of the term among healthcare professionals. In this brief report, we present findings from a survey of healthcare professionals. Our aim was to examine current understanding of the term do-not-attempt-resuscitate (DNAR), decision-making surrounding DNAR and awareness of current guidelines. The survey was distributed to doctors and nurses in a university teaching hospital and affiliated primary care physicians in Dublin via email and by hard copy at educational meetings from July to December 2014. A total of 519 completed the survey. The response rate in the hospital doctors group was 35.5% (187/527), 19.8% (292/1477) in the nurses group but 68.8% (150/218) in the specialist nurses group and 40% (40/100) in the primary care physician group.Alarmingly, our results demonstrate that 26.8% of staff nurses and 30% of primary care physicians surveyed believed that a patient with a DNAR order could not receive any/at least one of a list of simple treatments including antibiotics, physiotherapy, intravenous fluids, pain relief, oxygen, nasogastric feeding or airway suctioning, which were higher percentages compared to the other hospital doctors and experienced nurses groups with statistically significant differences (p<0.001). Furthermore, a higher percentage of staff nurses (26.8%) and primary care physicians (22.5%) believed that a patient with a DNAR order could not be referred to hospital from home/a nursing home, when compared with other healthcare groups (p<0.001). Our findings highlight continued misunderstanding and over-interpretation of DNAR orders. Further collaboration and information is required for meaningful Advance Care Plans.

scholarly journals A Pharmacist–Physician Collaboration to Optimize Benzodiazepine Use for Anxiety and Sleep Symptom Control in Primary Care

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon M. L. Furbish ◽  
Miranda E. Kroehl ◽  
Danielle F. Loeb ◽  
Huong Mindy Lam ◽  
Carmen L. Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Clinical Pharmacists ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Benzodiazepine Use ◽  
Collaborative Team ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Benzodiazepines are prescribed inappropriately in up to 40% of outpatients. The purpose of this study is to describe a collaborative team-based care model in which clinical pharmacists work with primary care providers (PCPs) to improve the safe use of benzodiazepines for anxiety and sleep disorders and to assess the preliminary results of the impact of the clinical service on patient outcomes. Methods: Adult patients were eligible if they received care from the academic primary care clinic, were prescribed a benzodiazepine chronically, and were not pregnant or managed by psychiatry. Outcomes included baseline PCP confidence and knowledge of appropriate benzodiazepine use, patient symptom severity, and medication changes. Results: Twenty-five of 57 PCPs responded to the survey. PCPs reported greater confidence in diagnosing and treating generalized anxiety and panic disorders than sleep disorder and had variable knowledge of appropriate benzodiazepine prescribing. Twenty-nine patients had at least 1 visit. Over 44 total patient visits, 59% resulted in the addition or optimization of a nonbenzodiazepine medication and 46% resulted in the discontinuation or optimization of a benzodiazepine. Generalized anxiety symptom severity scores significantly improved (−2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): −3.57 to −0.43). Conclusion: Collaborative team-based models that include clinical pharmacists in primary care can assist in optimizing high-risk benzodiazepine use. Although these findings suggest improvements in safe medication use and symptoms, additional studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

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