Prescription for learning? Meeting the development needs of the pharmacy profession

Abstract

This article explores the use of open learning to meet pharmacists' continuing development needs in the UK-a topic that the researchers first explored in 1996. First, it sets those needs in the context of the changing role of the pharmacist within the health care team. Second, the authors report the findings from a one-year study conducted in 1999-2000 by the Scottish Council for Research in Education of continuing professional development (CPD) provided by the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education at the University of Manchester. Data were collected from a 10% sample of registered pharmacists, telephone interviews with some employers and focus group meetings with a sample of pharmacists and tutors. Changes in pharmacists' attitudes to, and uptake of, CPD over the period are highlighted, the most significant of which is the growth in informal learning, an approach that now requires to be incorporated into an integrated model of CPD.

Barriers to pharmacist participation in continuing education in Australia

“…The major barrier to pharmacists attending CE activities has previously been reported as lack of time (Wilson & Bagley, 1999;Brackley, 2001;Mottram et al, 2002;Wilson et al, 2003). The results of this research suggest that Australian pharmacists, like those in Great Britain, would have difficulty completing even 30 h of CE each year (Hull & Rutter, 2003).…”

“…As with other healthcare professions, it is increasingly recognised, and therefore expected by the general community, that the competency of pharmacists needs to be sustained and developed beyond the entry-topractice level (Becher, 1996;Maguire & Bell, 2001;Mottram, Rowe, Gangani, & Al-Khamis, 2002;Biggs, 2003;Wilson, Schlapp, & Davidson, 2003). The progression and maintenance of post-registration knowledge, in addition to working in actual practices, can be seen as defining characteristics of a profession (Becher, 1996).…”

“…Information from the major supplier of CE activities to pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), suggests that only 20 -25% of members attend PSA CE activities and this is similar to attendance at CE from other providers such as the National Prescribing Service (NPS) and the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA). In Great Britain, several studies have reported that between 32 and 49.6% of pharmacists complete the recommended 30 h per year of CE (Mottram et al, 2002;Hull & Rutter, 2003;Wilson et al, 2003;Attewell, Blenkinsopp, & Black, 2005).…”

“…Time and the perceived lack of relevance of CE activities have been identified as the main barriers to participation in CE by British pharmacists, with lack of opportunity for CE also reported (Wilson & Bagley, 1999;Wilson et al, 2003). Little is documented concerning the barriers to participation in CE activities of Australian pharmacists.…”

Hospital trust engagement with a new vocational learning programme for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in England

“…The design of L@L thus addresses some of the main barriers to hospital pharmacists' uptake of CE, both in Great Britain and elsewhere, where time constraints play a significant role 8,9 . Hospital pharmacists appear to have a preference for daytime workshops, for which study leave can be taken 10 . Factors shown to encourage participation are the informativeness and relevance of topics, resulting in pharmacists' increased knowledge and improved confidence in their skills, and better outcomes for patients 4,9,10 .…”