Pharmacist prescribing: a review of perceptions and attitudes of patients, pharmacists and other interested professionals

Abstract

Pharmacist prescribing is a growing reality in some developed counties, with varied health systems. Understanding the contribution that this activity can offer in the healthcare process, and investigating its acceptance is of utmost importance for the countries that implement and regulate this type of system. This literature review aimed to design a state-of-the-art academic investigation on the perception, opinions, and attitudes in the context of pharmacist prescribing practices in countries that have adopted this system. To achieve this, the present study conducted an investigation of the Medline, Scopus, Embase, SciELO, and Lilacs databases, resulting in the selection of 17 studies. From the analysis of the articles, three categories of discussion arose: “understanding of the practice and perceived benefits”, “acceptance and adherence to the practice, and “hindrances to the practice”. The results showed varied acceptance and perceptions among the different publics, depending, among other questions, on the level of knowledge and experience of the patients and health professionals, on the profile of the pharmacists, or on the prescribing modality. This study highlights some challenges involved in the practice of pharmacist prescribing, and its findings can be useful in suggesting a means through which to strengthen the practice.

Potential for pharmacist prescribing in primary care: A Dutch citizen perspective

“…The findings of this study align with previous research that investigated the patient or public perspective on pharmacist prescribing mainly performed in countries that have some form of pharmacist prescribing. 10 , 12 These studies generally indicate support for pharmacist prescribing in specific situations, such as after a physician's diagnosis, prescription renewals, minor ailments, or restricted to a list of medications. Patients perceive prescribing by pharmacists as likely to improve access to healthcare and make better use of pharmacists' expertise.…”

“…Studies that have investigated the patient or public perspective are generally supportive of granting pharmacists prescribing authority in specific situations, such as after diagnosis by a physician, for a limited range of clinical conditions, in emergencies, renewing prescriptions, and modifying dosage regimens. 10 , 12 In these studies, patients expressed optimism that pharmacist prescribing could enhance healthcare access, especially for minor ailments, and valued pharmacists' competence and communication skills. However, concerns were raised about pharmacist training in diagnosis, access to medical records, and privacy in a community pharmacy setting.…”

“…Most of these studies were done in countries where some form of pharmacist prescribing already existed or was planned to be introduced. 10 , 12 It is unclear whether these findings apply to countries or settings without pharmacist prescribing legislation and no formal plans for introduction so far, such as the Netherlands. This study therefore aimed to investigate the citizen perspective on the potential role of pharmacists in prescribing in primary care in the Dutch context.…”

The community pharmacist as an independent prescriber: a scoping review

“…There are many steps to take, and acceptance by the medical community is one of the major hurdles to overcome [55,56]. The patient safety argument is often the rst to emerge when physicians and pharmacists disagree about PIP [57]. It is considered a step forward.…”