Abstract
Background Since 2015, NHS England has facilitated the recruitment of pharmacists in general practice (GP) to reduce workload of general practitioners. The role of pharmacists is therefore expected to become more clinical and patient oriented. However, little is known about the current roles performed and the integration of GP pharmacists. Objective To assess the role performed by GP pharmacists and their integration into practice exploring facilitators and barriers to integration. Setting A cross-sectional survey of GP pharmacists in England. Method This study used both online and paper-based questionnaires for a period of six months. Survey items included demographics, roles performed, integration including available support and practice environment. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and 95% confidence intervals. Open comments were analysed thematically to identify pharmacists’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators to their integration into practice. Main outcome measure Current role and integration of pharmacists into GP. Results 195 participants completed the questionnaire. Three quarters of pharmacists (76%) had only been in GP since 2015. Most pharmacists (81%) were independent prescribers (PIPs). The most reported pharmacists’ roles were medicine reconciliation (95%), telephone support for patients (95%) and face-to-face medication review (91%). 82% (95% CI: 76% to 86.8%) were satisfied with their overall integration into practice. Half of pharmacists (45%) were working in a shared office or at a hot desk and 9% had no designated workspace. PIPs had more access to a convenient workplace (p = 0.016) compared to non-IPs. Conclusion Practice pharmacists are fulfilling a wide range of clinical and non-clinical roles in England. Findings highlight relatively a satisfactory level of pharmacists’ integration into practice and shed the light on their integration issues. These findings could be significant for the development of future roles of pharmacists in GP.
Highlights
The increasing number of patients with multimorbidity and the associated increase in medication use has led to a significant increase in the workload of general practice (GP)1 3 Vol.:(0123456789)International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy worldwide [1,2,3]
Most participants (n = 176, 90%, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 85–93.6%) had been registered as pharmacists in England for 6 years or more; the majority (n = 148, 76%, 95% CI: 69–81%) had been in GP for 4 years or less
This study investigated the current role of GP pharmacists and their integration including the types of undertaken activities, scope of practice and working status, perception of integration and available support in addition to the practice environment
Summary
The increasing number of patients with multimorbidity and the associated increase in medication use has led to a significant increase in the workload of general practice (GP)1 3 Vol.:(0123456789)International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy worldwide [1,2,3]. Evidence suggest that pharmacists can provide valuable services to ease the burden on GP and reduce patient waiting times [6,7,8]. Integrating pharmacists into GP could reduce emergency department attendance and improve patient safety and health outcomes [9, 10]. Evidence from published international systematic reviews and meta-analysis of randomised control trials suggests that pharmacists who are working in GP can significantly improve clinical outcomes of patients with chronic diseases [11, 12]. Since 2015, NHS England has facilitated the recruitment of pharmacists in general practice (GP) to reduce workload of general practitioners. The role of pharmacists is expected to become more clinical and patient oriented. Little is known about the current roles performed and the integration of GP pharmacists
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