Characteristics of Pharmacists’ Prescribing Support for a Recovery Rehabilitation Ward

Abstract

Task shifting and task sharing are expected to improve the work environment and provide high-quality medical and attentive care by demonstrating the expertise of each participating medical professional. We conducted a survey to clarify the current status and characteristics of task shifting and task sharing in a recovery rehabilitation ward. In this study, we de ned the pharmacistʼs prescription change proposal and follow-up after the prescription change as task sharing; we de ned the pharmacistʼs prescription substitution change according to protocol as task shifting. The study covered all prescriptions for inpatients admitted to a recovery rehabilitation ward from April 2020 to March 2021. Of these, prescriptions that were changed for any reason were categorized into prescriptions changed by a physician and prescriptions changed at the suggestion of a pharmacist. Additionally, reasons for the prescription changes were investigated. The number of prescription substitution changes authorized by pharmacists according to protocol was also studied. The total number of prescription changes recorded during the study was 1,862; of these, 474 (25％) were authorized by pharmacists. Prescription changes involving a switch from "bring-your-own" medications or maintain/improve adherence characterized a high percentage of pharmacistsʼ changes. The total number of prescriptions investigated in this study was 5,522, of which 40 (approximately 1％) were changed according to a prior agreed-upon protocol. Further, 257 (approximately 5％) were changed according to a prescription change substitution protocol. Findings of the study indicate that task shifting and task sharing could contribute to improving the quality and safety of medical care.