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Karim L, McIntosh T, Jebara T, Pfleger D, Osprey A, Cunningham S. Investigating practice integration of independent prescribing by community pharmacists using normalization process theory: a cross-sectional survey. Int J Clin Pharm 2024; 46:966-976. [PMID: 38727778 PMCID: PMC11286670 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-024-01733-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Independent prescribing (IP) has not been extensively investigated in community pharmacy (CP). Normalization process theory (NPT) constructs help explain how interventions are integrated into practice and include: 'coherence' (understanding), 'cognitive participation' (what promotes engagement), 'collective action' (integration with existing systems), and 'reflexive monitoring' (evaluation). AIM To use NPT to investigate the integration of pharmacist IP in CP. METHOD NHS Scotland Pharmacy First Plus (PFP) is a community pharmacy IP service. Questionnaire items were developed using the NPT derived Normalisation MeAsure Development (NoMAD) tool for an online survey of all PFP IP pharmacists. Demographic data were analysed descriptively and scale scores (calculated from item scores for the 4 NPT constructs) were used for inferential analysis. RESULTS There was a 73% (88/120) response rate. Greater than 90% 'strongly agreed'/'agreed' to NoMAD items relating to most NPT constructs. However, responses to 'collective action' items were diverse with more participants answering 'neither agree nor disagree' or 'disagree'. A statistically significant difference in NPT construct scale scores with significant p-values (ranging from p < 0.001 to p = 0.033) was shown on all the NPT constructs for the variable 'On average, how often do you consult with patients under the PFP service?'. CONCLUSION This theory-based work offers perspectives on IP integration within CP. Despite its geographic focus this work offers insights relevant to wider contexts on IP integration. It shows 'collective action' focused 'organisation' and 'group process' challenges with a need for further work on staff training, resource availability and utilisation, working relationships, communication and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Karim
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK
| | - T McIntosh
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK
| | - T Jebara
- Health Services and Population Science Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - D Pfleger
- Pharmacy and Medicines Directorate, Westholme, Woodend Hospital, Queens Road, Aberdeen, AB15 6LS, UK
| | - A Osprey
- Community Pharmacy Scotland, 42 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3NH, UK
| | - S Cunningham
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK.
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Holland R, Bond C, Alldred DP, Arthur A, Barton G, Birt L, Blacklock J, Blyth A, Cheilari S, Daffu-O'Reilly A, Dalgarno L, Desborough J, Ford J, Grant K, Harry B, Hill H, Hughes C, Inch J, Maskrey V, Myint P, Norris N, Poland F, Shepstone L, Spargo M, Turner D, Watts L, Zermansky A, Wright D. Evaluation of effectiveness and safety of pharmacist independent prescribers in care homes: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2023; 380:e071883. [PMID: 36787910 PMCID: PMC9926330 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-071883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the effectiveness, cost effectiveness (to be reported elsewhere), and safety of pharmacy independent prescribers in care homes. DESIGN Cluster randomised controlled trial, with clusters based on triads of a pharmacist independent prescriber, a general practice, and one to three associated care homes. SETTING Care homes across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, their associated general practices, and pharmacy independent prescribers, formed into triads. PARTICIPANTS 49 triads and 882 residents were randomised. Participants were care home residents, aged ≥65 years, taking at least one prescribed drug, recruited to 20 residents/triad. INTERVENTION Each pharmacy independent prescriber provided pharmaceutical care to approximately 20 residents across one to three care homes, with weekly visits over six months. Pharmacy independent prescribers developed a pharmaceutical care plan for each resident, did medicines reviews/reconciliation, trained staff, and supported with medicines related procedures, deprescribing, and authorisation of prescriptions. Participants in the control group received usual care. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES The primary outcome was fall rate/person at six months analysed by intention to treat, adjusted for prognostic variables. Secondary outcomes included quality of life (EQ-5D by proxy), Barthel score, Drug Burden Index, hospital admissions, and mortality. Assuming a 21% reduction in falls, 880 residents were needed, allowing for 20% attrition. RESULTS The average age of participants at study entry was 85 years; 70% were female. 697 falls (1.55 per resident) were recorded in the intervention group and 538 falls (1.26 per resident) in the control group at six months. The fall rate risk ratio for the intervention group compared with the control group was not significant (0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.66 to 1.26) after adjustment for all model covariates. Secondary outcomes were not significantly different between groups, with exception of the Drug Burden Index, which significantly favoured the intervention. A third (185/566; 32.7%) of pharmacy independent prescriber interventions involved medicines associated with falls. No adverse events or safety concerns were identified. CONCLUSIONS Change in the primary outcome of falls was not significant. Limiting follow-up to six months combined with a small proportion of interventions predicted to affect falls may explain this. A significant reduction in the Drug Burden Index was realised and would be predicted to yield future clinical benefits for patients. This large trial of an intensive weekly pharmacist intervention with care home residents was also found to be safe and well received. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN 17847169.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Holland
- Leicester Medical School, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Christine Bond
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - Antony Arthur
- School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Garry Barton
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Linda Birt
- School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Annie Blyth
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | | | | | - Lindsay Dalgarno
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - Joanna Ford
- Geriatric Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kelly Grant
- Norwich Clinical Trials Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Bronwen Harry
- Norwich Clinical Trials Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Helen Hill
- Stow Healthcare Ltd, Bury St. Edmunds, UK
| | - Carmel Hughes
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Jacqueline Inch
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - Phyo Myint
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Nigel Norris
- School of Education and Lifelong Learning, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Fiona Poland
- School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Lee Shepstone
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Maureen Spargo
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - David Turner
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Laura Watts
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | | | - David Wright
- School of Healthcare, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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Deslandes P, Blowers H, Haines K, Hodson K, Deslandes R. Medicines prescribed by non-medical independent prescribers in primary care in Wales: a 10-year longitudinal study April 2011-March 2021. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e059204. [PMID: 35210350 PMCID: PMC8883253 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The therapeutic classes of medicines prescribed by non-medical independent prescribers (NMIPs) working in primary care in Wales has not been studied in detail. The aim of this study was to conduct a 10-year longitudinal analysis of NMIP prescribing in Wales from April 2011 to March 2021. The study examined the British National Formulary (BNF) chapters from which medicines were prescribed by NMIPs, whether this changed over time, and whether there was variation in prescribing across the geographic regions of Wales. DESIGN Retrospective secondary data analysis of primary care prescribing data. Monthly prescribing data for the 10 National Health Service financial years (April to March) from April 2011 to March 2021 were obtained from the Comparative Analysis System for Prescribing Audit software. Data were analysed according to BNF chapter, to identify in which therapeutic areas NMIPs were prescribing, and whether this changed over the study period. RESULTS The number of items prescribed by NMIPs increased during the study period. From April 2011 to March 2021 prescribing in seven BNF chapters equated to approximately 80% of total items, with cardiovascular system medicines most prescribed. In the financial year 2011-2012 the BNF chapters with the greatest proportion of items prescribed were infection (18%) and respiratory system (13%), while in 2020-2021, these had changed to cardiovascular (23%) and nervous system (19%). The number of items prescribed in each health board in Wales varied, however, the BNF chapters contributing the largest percentages of items to the health board totals were broadly comparable. CONCLUSIONS The BNF chapter with the most prescribed items changed from infection to cardiovascular during the study period, suggesting an increase in chronic disease management by NMIPs. The impact of this on the delivery of primary care services and patient outcomes is a focus for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Deslandes
- All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre, Academic Centre, University Hospital Llandough, Llandough, UK
- School of Care Sciences, University of South Wales, Treforest, UK
| | - Hannah Blowers
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Kath Haines
- All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre, Academic Centre, University Hospital Llandough, Llandough, UK
| | - Karen Hodson
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Rhian Deslandes
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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