What do clinical pharmacologists do? A questionnaire survey of senior UK clinical pharmacologists

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics is the academic discipline that informs rational prescribing of medicines. There is accumulating evidence that a significant minority of prescriptions in the UK National Health Service contain errors. This comes at a time when the approach to and success of undergraduate education in this area has been called into question. Various stakeholders are now in agreement that this challenging area of undergraduate education needs to be strengthened. The principles that should form the basis of future educational strategy include greater visibility of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics in the curriculum, clear learning outcomes that are consistent with national guidance, strong and enthusiastic leadership, a student formulary, opportunities to practice prescribing, a robust assessment of prescribing competencies and external quality control. Important new developments in the UK are Prescribe, a repository of e-learning materials to support education in clinical pharmacology and prescribing, and the Prescribing Skills Assessment, a national online assessment designed to allow medical students to demonstrate that they have achieved the core competencies required to begin postgraduate training.

Section: Leadershipmentioning

confidence: 99%

An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: How should teaching of undergraduates in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics be delivered and assessed?

Maxwell

2012

“…A survey of senior UK clinical pharmacologists [2] has shown that they undertake a wide range of activities, including the following: teaching medical students and others the principles of clinical pharmacology and practical therapeutics; research in a wide range of pharmacological and therapeutic areas; patient care, mostly in acute and general hospital medicine and in outpatient clinics; service both locally and nationally on a wide range of committees related to drug therapy; and editorial work on learned journals and preparation of written teaching materials, including journal articles, didactic textbooks, reference books and e-learning materials. They spend a median of 50 h per week in these activities, distributed as follows: teaching, 10%; research, 40%; clinical work, 30%; policy and administration, 12%; and editorial work and writing, 8%.…”

Section: What Clinical Pharmacologists Domentioning

confidence: 99%

An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: Developing and delivering clinical pharmacology in the UK National Health Service

Routledge

2012

Clinical pharmacologists are active in the delivery of general and specialist medical services across the UK. They also make major contributions, both locally and nationally, to medicines management and appraisal in the National Health Service. Most are also heavily involved in the organization and delivery of teaching and training of a range of healthcare professionals, both undergraduates and postgraduates. In the past, these contributions may not have been fully recognized, perhaps in part because the discipline is small. However, the British Pharmacological Society, particularly through its Clinical Section, is committed to initiatives to ensure that all clinical pharmacologists (whatever their background, training or subsequent working environment) can work together to improve patient care, nationally and internationally. Effective engagement with universities, the National Health Service and pharmaceutical companies will be vital if these initiatives are to have sustained benefits and improve health outcomes for patients.

Section: Leaving the Ivory Towermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In all places where there are clinical pharmacologists they either chair their local Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) or are active members of it [5].This always requires a close working relationship with their colleagues in pharmacy. Most hospitals also have a variety of bodies with a remit for patient safety, drug expenditure review, prescribing audit, protocol development and much more.…”

Section: Taking the Lead On Prescribing Policy In The Hospitalmentioning

confidence: 99%

An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: The roles of clinical pharmacologists in formulating medicines policy locally

Reynolds¹,

Barker

2012

Specialists in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CPT) can add value in day-to-day NHS activities in several ways. They provide a breadth of expertise that is not organ-based or disease-specific and that is based on an intimate knowledge and understanding of the effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of pharmacological interventions. More than any other professional group, they can address the growing need for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching to be based on 'thoughtful therapeutics' , not just the mechanics of prescribing. CPT specialists can and do take the lead in making local and national policy decisions relating to drug usage and they should be involved in local commissioning decisions. Because of the breadth of experience embraced by CPT, many clinical pharmacologists have taken on local and national senior clinical leadership roles. CPT needs to demonstrate to the NHS, and in particular to trainees, that a CPT post in the NHS is a legitimate and rewarding career path, where they can use their hard earned CPT skills and expertise to the benefit of the NHS as a whole.