Décaudin B, Voirol P, Perrottet N, Spinewine A, Bussières JF. [Clinical pharmacy in four French-speaking university hospitals, integration and supervision of clinical pharmacists: An exploratory study].
Ann Pharm Fr 2023;
81:138-151. [PMID:
35952847 DOI:
10.1016/j.pharma.2022.08.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pharmacy practice continues to evolve worldwide. The clinical role of the pharmacists is increasingly recognized and their integration into the health care team is irreversible. Despite this progress, there are still a wide disparity in the scope of practice provided by hospital pharmacists around the world. This disparity can be attributed to a variety of factors.
OBJECTIVES
The primary objective is to describe the organization of clinical pharmacy in four university hospitals in four French-speaking countries. The secondary objective is to identify similarities and differences and to identify perspectives for the future.
METHODS
This is an exploratory cross-sectional descriptive study. The study targeted a university hospital (CHU) in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada (Quebec). A volunteer expert pharmacist involved in the management of clinical pharmacy at each hospital was approached at the initiative of a team member. A working group of five pharmacists was set up.
RESULTS
During the year 2021, the group met virtually on ten occasions. Although all institutions have an academic mission, they have very different numbers of beds and volumes of activity. The number of pharmacists is also very different (0.83 FTE pharmacist/1000 admissions in Belgium, 0.22 in France, 0.59 in Switzerland and 2.39 in Quebec). In all countries, pharmacists provide clinical pharmacy services to patients in a centralised or decentralised manner, including, to various extent, prescription analysis, medication reconciliation, pharmaceutical interviews and discharge plans.
CONCLUSIONS
Clinical pharmacy practice is very heterogeneous in a selection of four French-speaking teaching hospitals. Identification of similarities and differences may inspire improvements in the organization of clinical pharmacy activity. This work has contributed to the establishment of a community of practice on clinical pharmacy in the French-speaking world.
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