Assessing readiness for research: a pilot study of Indonesian pharmacists

Abstract

Objectives Readiness is a key factor that influences pharmacists’ willingness to get involved in research, thus promoting evidence-based pharmacy practice. While the data are lacking, this study aimed to assess readiness for research, as well as the associated demographic and attitudinal characteristics of pharmacists in a range of healthcare settings in East Java Province, Indonesia. Methods A questionnaire was administered to all pharmacists in a public hospital in Malang (n = 55), pharmacists from primary health centre (PHCs) (n = 63) and community pharmacies (n = 100) in Surabaya in 2017. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: (1) demographic characteristics, (2) attitudinal aspects and (3) readiness for research. Descriptive analysis was used to summarise the data. Spearman correlation tests determined the correlations between ‘demographic characteristics’ or ‘attitudinal aspects’ versus ‘readiness’. Key findings A total of 142 pharmacists responded which comprised hospital pharmacists (n = 46), community pharmacists (n = 51) and PHC pharmacists (n = 45), giving response rates ranged from 51.0% to 83.6%. Approximately half of the participating pharmacists demonstrated adequate ‘readiness’ to research [mean 2.53 ± 0.7 (range 0–4)]. Compared with hospital or PHC pharmacists, community pharmacists showed lower ‘readiness’ to research (mean 2.76 ± 0.71 versus 2.53 ± 0.66 versus 2.31 ± 0.68, respectively; P = 0.005). Two demographic characteristics positively correlated with ‘readiness’, that is, prior research training (rs = 0.217; P = 0.010) and prior research experience (rs = 0.221; P = 0.008). Meanwhile, all ‘attitudinal aspects’ were found to be positively correlated with research ‘readiness’ (all P-values <0.001). Conclusions Findings from this study provide baseline data to develop strategies to optimise the involvement of pharmacist practitioners in research, thus enhancing evidence-based pharmacy practice and quality use of medications in Indonesia.