Pharmacist prescribing training models in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada: Snapshot survey

Abstract

Background: This study sought to identify the differences between training models for pharmacist prescribing across three countries according to the funding, model of prescribing the pharmacist will practice after training, training course framework, method of delivery, assessment, continuing professional development, and barriers and facilitators to enrolment. Methods: An online quantitative/qualitative snapshot survey was sent to academics of pharmacist prescribing courses and Deans of different pharmacy schools in the UK (n=49), Australia (n=12), and Canada (n=10). A narrative analysis was undertaken. Results: Seventeen pharmacy schools responded (24% response rate). The UK provides postgraduate training courses funded by the government. Canada incorporates prescribing competencies into entry-t- practice courses. Australia does not provide courses yet. Conclusion: Pharmacist prescribing is still under-utilised in many countries. Standardisation would reduce variation and improve uptake in countries implementing pharmacist prescribing roles. However, there is currently no international unified system or curriculum for pharmacists' prescribing courses.

New Zealand pharmacists’ views regarding the current prescribing courses: questionnaire survey

“…19 Government funding through local bodies or organisations, such as the National Health Service. 9 Canada -2007 7 Nothing beyond PharmD. PharmD is usually 4 years of full-time study preceded by 2 years of introductory study.…”

“…7 Must be approved by Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) using an application form showing evidence of relevant knowledge and skill, including clinical case studies from post registration practice. 7 -Self funding 9 Modified from the Pharmacist Prescriber Qualification Project prepared by Jane von Dadelszen for the NZ Pharmacy Council. 7 the study results are grounded in example quotations from the raw data.…”

“…These courses have been found to vary in content, structure, mode of delivery and assessment from country to country. 9 In comparison to many international counterparts, The NZ Pharmacy Council requires pharmacists to complete an accredited pharmacist prescribing course (a joint course offered by pharmacy schools at Otago and Auckland universities) to register in pharmacist prescribing scope of practice. 10 This postgraduate qualification is self-funded, has extensive pre-requisites, is educationally demanding, and has longer practicum requirements (see Table 1).…”

Scope, content and quality of clinical pharmacy practice guidelines: a systematic review

“…The extended definition identifies activities covered by clinical pharmacy including services to support roles around selection, administration, and monitoring of medicines by healthcare professionals, patients, and the public [ 1 ]. These activities include clinical pharmacy services such as medication counselling, communication, medication review, reconciliation, and optimisation of pharmacotherapy, as well as advanced services, such as pharmacist prescribing [ 2 , 3 ].…”