GP trainee prescribing assessment – a qualitative evaluation of the involvement of pharmacists

Brown, K., Cunningham, D., Allan, R. and Lee, K. (2022) GP trainee prescribing assessment – a qualitative evaluation of the involvement of pharmacists. Education for Primary Care, 33(4), pp. 221-228. (doi: 10.1080/14739879.2021.2021380) (PMID:35067216)

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Abstract

In 2019, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) introduced a mandatory workplace-based prescribing assessment for general practice trainees in their final year of training (GPST3). This assessment aimed to improve the quality of prescribing and reduce prescribing errors and it did not require pharmacist involvement. NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the education and training body for NHS Scotland: delivering postgraduate training for GP trainees working in NHS Scotland. NES wished to evaluate the role that general practice pharmacists could have in this assessment. A training event for pharmacists was designed and delivered by the researchers in collaboration with the NES pharmacy team. Pharmacists attached to training practices in the West region of Scotland, where a GPST3 was undertaking the prescribing assessment, were invited to attend. The training described the prescribing assessment and the value that pharmacists could add to this workplace-based assessment. The evaluation aimed to explore the role of appropriately trained pharmacists in the prescribing assessment and their feedback to GP trainees, and evaluate the impact pharmacists had by exploring the views of GP trainers, GP trainees and pharmacists. Results showed that the intervention was viewed as a positive educational experience for all participants, and the interprofessional approach broadened the learning experience for GP trainees. We believe this to be innovative work replicable to primary healthcare colleagues to promote prescribing safety and interprofessional learning with pharmacy colleagues.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Allan, Dr Rachael and Cunningham, Dr David and Brown, Dr Katie
Authors: Brown, K., Cunningham, D., Allan, R., and Lee, K.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
Journal Name:Education for Primary Care
Publisher:Taylor & Francis
ISSN:1473-9879
ISSN (Online):1475-990X
Published Online:23 January 2022

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