EAHP European Statements Survey 2017, focusing on sections 2 (Selection, Procurement and Distribution), 5 (Patient Safety and Quality Assurance) and 6 (Education and Research)

Abstract

ObjectivesThe 2017 EAHP European Statements Survey focussed on sections 2, 5 and 6 of the European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy. Statistical data on the level of implementation and on the main barriers to implementation of the Statements were collected. A further aim was to identify barriers in general, such as lack of awareness.MethodsAn online questionnaire was sent to all hospital pharmacies in European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) member countries. Data were analysed at Keele University School of Pharmacy, UK by and the EAHP Survey Group.ResultsThere were 783 complete responses (response rate 17.4%). Some 42% of responders worked in teaching hospitals, 76% of hospital pharmacies had 10 or less pharmacists, and 46% of hospital pharmacies served over 500 beds.Five questions revealing the lowest implementation levels were further analysed in greater detail. Only 30% of respondents reported that their hospital pharmacists routinely publish hospital pharmacy practice research, and only 50% are involved in the development of local or national guidelines. 45% of respondents reported that computerised decision support was used to reduce the risk of medication errors in their hospitals, 69% stated that they had contingency plans for medicines shortages and 60% answered that they had had reason to contact their medicines authority because of drug shortages. 63% reported that the transcription step had been eliminated from the medicines administration process.ConclusionsThe survey has provided the EAHP with an overview of the implementation level as well as the barriers to and drivers of implementation of sections 2, 5 and 6. This is important for informing the plans of EAHP and its members so that implementation can be fully supported.

Clinical Pharmacy Activities in Swiss Hospitals: How Have They Evolved from 2013 to 2017?

“…The average of six FTE in Swiss hospitals were comparable to European countries, where 76% of hospitals employ 1-10 pharmacists [12].…”

A survey about label enhancement methods for parenteral medication in European hospital pharmacies

“…In a survey in 2017 of the European Associations of Hospital Pharmacists, 45% of the respondents reported use of computerized decision support, with high variation between countries. For example, 90% of the respondents in the Netherlands used decision support, whereas less than 40% in the UK did so [1]. Multicenter studies are needed to evaluate the impact of interventions in practice settings as shown in a recent study completed in the USA, evaluating the impact of introducing "Tall Man" lettering on prescription errors [24].…”

“…Hospital pharmacists have an important role in promoting and ensuring the safe use of medicines [1]. Good labeling of medication is recognized as an important aspect of medication safety in hospitals, but 20% or more of medication errors may be related to confusing packaging and poor labeling [2,3].…”

“…Enhancing the readability of labels could be done in different ways [4,5]. Closed loop systems using barcode technologies have been introduced in some hospitals [1,8]. However, medication labels need to still be easily readable for humans, for example in emergency situations.…”

“…This concerns the labels produced by manufacturers as well as labels produced in the hospitals by the hospital pharmacies or on the wards. As little is known about which labeling practices are currently used in European hospitals, a survey across countries may therefore be useful to identify best practices and drive improvement [1].…”