Pharmaceutical Skills Research Articles

Integration of the patient partner in simulation-based learning in initial pharmacy training

Background: Over the years, role-playing simulations have gradually become part of pharmacy teaching. The aim of this study is to characterise the potential of the patient partner, in relation to the student and the teacher, to interpret the role of the patient and to carry out the debriefing during role-playing simulations of pharmaceutical dispensing. Methods: Experimental simulations were set up to compare students, patient partners and teachers in the role of patient. Each simulation was subject to observations (n = 30) focusing on the quality of the role plays and debriefings performed. Results: In addition to the realism provided, the patient partner showed the greatest adaptability in their roles of his role, able to both make more complex and simplify the situation according to the student's needs. Regarding the debriefing, the teacher seemed to be the one most able to detect the points of improvement in the performance achieved regarding communication and pharmaceutical skills. Conclusion: Students, teachers or patient partners bring different resources that should be used thoughtfully by teachers according to the educational objectives of the simulation. However, it is important to be aware that the ability of the patient partners to participate in such lessons depends on their training and experience.

Using a virtual simulation platform for dispensing pediatric prescriptions in a community-based pharmaceutical skills course

Background and purposeSafe and accurate dispensing of medications is an essential skill. Pharmacy schools must provide students with the knowledge and practice to enhance special population dispensing skills. The objective of this study is to describe a community pharmacy pediatric simulation completed by first-year pharmacy students and to review student perceptions on confidence and knowledge learned after a MyDispense (Monash University) simulation. Educational activity and settingFirst-year Pharmaceutical Skills students participated in a MyDispense simulation to identify errors and omissions of prescription orders with a focus on pediatrics. Although students had limited therapeutic knowledge, the activity emphasized federal and Florida law requirements. Retrieval and direct application of these principles along with new experiences in identifying medication errors afforded students to learn in a low-stake, controlled environment. FindingsOf the 64 students enrolled in the Pharmaceutical Skills I course, 57 completed the pre-simulation survey and 56 students completed the post-simulation survey (87.5% response rate). Increased confidence and knowledge were found for most questions. The pre-simulation survey had students most frequently answer neutral followed by disagree or strongly disagree for ability to complete the listed task. The post-simulation survey responses shifted with many students responding with agree or strongly agree for the listed task and found MyDispense to be a helpful simulation tool. SummaryExposing pharmacy students to pediatric virtual simulations early in the curriculum may increase confidence and knowledge. Future pediatric simulation coursework would benefit longitudinally to further build confidence and enhance retention of knowledge.

Design, Development and Evaluation of an Application based on Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) for Over-The-Counter (OTC) Therapy: An Educational Interventions in Community Pharmacists.

Mobile health (mHealth) technology-based applications provide strong medical health-care support. Applications have an important impact as tools to improve the knowledge and support the health-care team practice. In this study, an over-the-counter (OTC) therapy application was developed based on Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS). CDSS is a key to improve health-related decisions and healthcare delivery. Furthermore, the quality and effectiveness of this application were evaluated among community pharmacists. The application was designed and developed for 10 topics of OTC therapy. After the approval of the expert panel, 40 pharmacists affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS) participated in this before and after quasi-experimental study. The related scenarios and checklists were designed for the ten topics. The participants had to manage the scenarios first by their knowledge and then with the application. The knowledge and pharmaceutical skills in OTC therapy were evaluated based on the obtained scores and the time recorded. The quality of the application was evaluated by pharmacists using user version of mobile application rating scale (uMARS) questionnaire. To compare before/after measurements of parametric and non-parametric data, we used the paired t-test and Wilcoxon matched-pairs test, respectively. Besides, the variables was compared using Mann-Whitney test. The statistical significance was considered at P<0.05. The analyses were performed using the statistical software Stata (ver. 13). All scores after using the application increased, and the P-value was not significant. Also, the recorded time was increased after the use of the application, and the P-value was not significant. The minimum mean scores of the six uMARS questionnaire sections were 3. It means that acceptable scores were obtained in all sections of the questionnaire. The "App quality score" section of the application was reported 3.45±0.94. No relationship was found between gender and the median score of each section of the uMARS questionnaire. The OTC therapy application developed in this study will help Persian-speaking pharmacists to increase their knowledge and pharmaceutical skills.

Vancomycin Flight Simulator: A Team-Based Learning Exercise

Team-based learning (TBL) encourages learners to think critically to solve problems they will face in practice. Pharmacokinetic dosing and monitoring are complex skills requiring the application of learned knowledge. The study sought to assess the impact of a TBL, vancomycin dosing activity in a Pharmaceutical Skills IV course measured with exam question performance during the second professional year. This retrospective, descriptive study relates a TBL activity, assigned to 85 students, which included an individual student pre-preparation quiz, assigned readings, in-class individual and team-based readiness assessments, small group application of a vancomycin patient case, and group discussion/feedback on clinical decisions with supportive reasoning. The class year before and class year of the TBL implementation were compared using the total percentage of points possible earned by the class years, by topic. To minimize potential confounding, the primary outcome was the change in topic performance by the rank difficulty (e.g., the largest possible benefit being the hardest topic becoming the easiest with no other variation in topic rank difficulty). In the year of implementation, the mean individual readiness assurance test (IRAT) performance was 5.5 ± 1.88 (10 points possible, 55%). The mean team readiness assurance test (TRAT) performance was 10 of 10 points possible (100%). The class exam item performance in the year before (n = 101) and year of (n = 84) TBL implementation showed a general decline in exam scores. However, the vancomycin topic difficultly went from fifth easiest, to second easiest, with less than 1% change in raw score. Implementation of a pharmacokinetic TBL activity appeared to moderately support the students' vancomycin learning. Additional studies are warranted on APPE readiness and performance.

Implementing cognitive apprenticeship theory for an ethics module within a first-year pharmacy skills course

Background and purposeCritical thinking and problem solving are two skills required to be a successful pharmacist. These skills are often difficult to teach and assess within the classroom. Cognitive apprenticeship theory has been discussed in literature to foster the cognitive and meta-cognitive processes of thinking. Coordinators of a first year Pharmaceutical Skills I course explore how they incorporated this theory into an ethics module to enhance student awareness of thinking and application. Educational activity and settingAn ethics module was incorporated into a first year doctor of pharmacy skills course in fall 2021. This module was developed following the four dimensions of cognitive apprenticeship. Lecture materials and ethical debate topics were created by course coordinators and mirrored real time ethical issues surrounding the field of pharmacy. Students were required to use primary literature, the American Pharmacists' Association Code of Ethics, and other ethical terms to support their arguments. Cognitive apprenticeship theory was used throughout the module and post-debate discussions. FindingsThe ethics module presented in this course incorporated all dimensions of cognitive apprenticeship. Course coordinators perceived students were able to apply knowledge of ethical principles to scenarios and debates in an effective manner. Purposeful introduction, reiteration, and application offers students the chance to showcase critical thinking and ethical reasoning. SummaryUtilizing the cognitive apprenticeship theory to prepare students for critical thinking is effective when incorporated into a course module. This theory could be successfully implemented into other topics throughout the course and throughout the pharmacy curriculum.

On Amateurism in the 18th-Century Russian Science: The Case of Grigory Demidov and His Garden in Solikamsk

This article describes the case of Grigory Demidov from the dynasty of the wealthiest industrialists in 18th-century Russia, with an emphasis on his scientific amateurism and contribution to botany. Summarizing the literature on Demidov as a “botanophile”, the article offers a rethinking of the process of formation of his botanical interests. In line with the nobility’s tradition, Grigory set out to create a “paradise” with exotic plants on his estate in the Ural city of Solikamsk. There is a widespread historiographic belief that Demidov’s fascination with botany emerged due to Georg Steller, the naturalist with the Second Kamchatka Expedition, who had allegedly stayed in Solikamsk in 1739 en route to Siberia. However, our comparison of the archival sources and materials concerning Steller’s journey casts doubt on this hypothesis. On the contrary, in his letter to the botanist T. Gerber, written during the same period, Demidov recounted his experience of collecting endemic plants, including medicinal herbs, his desire to learn more about their taxonomy and nomenclature. Grigory’s amateur interest in the “science of plants” and his pharmaceutical skills were noted by Academicians G. F. Müller and I. G. Gmelin, who visited Solikamsk in 1742. Therefore, it is no coincidence that Steller, on the way back to St. Petersburg, in the spring of 1746 stayed with Demidov to salvage the plants collected during the Expedition. After Steller’s sudden death, Grigory became the owner of a vast collection of rare Kamchatka and Siberian plants. This collection enabled Demidov to begin exchanging seeds with professional botanists, primarily with Carl Linnaeus, in 1748. His correspondence with Linnaeus demonstrates an impressive progress in Grigory’s botanical experience and knowledge. The article argues that Grigory Demidov’s fascination with botany arose when he collected and cultivated ornamental and medicinal plants on his own. Professional botanists had only guided this process but had not initiated it. Nevertheless, Grigory Demidov’s amateur skills and scientific aspirations allow to place his name among the major actors in botany. Even Linnaeus himself had mentioned Demidov’s contribution to botany in his world-famous treatise, Species plantarum.

Cultivation of Pharmaceutical Ethics and Pharmaceutical Skills of Pharmaceutical Students Before Internship

Cultivating students' moral and practical skills is an important teaching content in pharmacy teaching. The internship stage is the last training stage for the basic practical skills of pharmaceutical students. Before the internship, students should understand the rules and regulations of the internship unit, make clear the contents and objectives of the internship, strengthen the basic skills training of four pharmacy majors, which are prescription preparation, drug analysis and inspection and drug maintenance, and develop good pharmaceutical ethics.

Design, Implementation and Evaluation of Clinical Pharmacology Simulation Training Method for Nursing Students of Tehran School of Nursing and Midwifery

Introduction: Educating students in a safe environment such as simulated centers can be effective in providing educational services and preparation for clinical work. Accordingly, the present study was conducted with the aim of designing, implementing and evaluating clinical pharmacology simulation training method for nursing students. Methods: This study was performed in 2019-2021 in three main phases of design, implementation and evaluation of Pharmaceutical Skills Center in Clinical Skills Center of Tehran School of Nursing and Midwifery. First, the design phase was accomplished by preparing the space and the desired drugs. Due to the prevalence of Covid-19 disease, part of the implementation and evaluation phase was carried out in the virtual context. Before and after the internship, students' knowledge, skills, satisfaction and clinical reasoning were measured using relevant questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Result: The mean scores of the three variables in terms of pharmacology knowledge, drug calculation skills and clinical reasoning of pharmacology of nursing students before and after the internship were examined. The results demonstrated that all three means were significantly improved compared to that of before the intervention (P &lt;0.001 and P = 0.001). The mean of total students' satisfaction with pharmacology internship course turned out to be 30.57 (3.2), which indicated the relative satisfaction with the training course. Conclusion: In general, the results of the study indicated an improvement at the level of pharmacological knowledge, clinical reasoning of pharmacology and a significant improvement in pharmacological skills. Despite the limitations of Covid 19, this training method seems to augment the performance of nursing students in pharmacology.

Combining simulated academic detailing with naloxone training to prepare student pharmacists for opioid risk mitigation strategies

Background and purposeAcademic detailing (AD) is an educational outreach intervention designed to provide clinicians with current evidenced-based education to improve patient care and is effective in mitigating opioid risks. Student pharmacists' abilities to apply naloxone training can benefit from concomitant AD training by highlighting skills needed to effectively assess patient and provider needs and handle objections in a non-biased, evidence-supported manner while reinforcing the application of naloxone administration. Most states have a standing order for pharmacist prescribed naloxone. School of pharmacy clinical science faculty sought to create a combined educational activity teaching naloxone AD in conjunction with hands-on naloxone training to better prepare students to apply the standing order in their future careers. Educational activity and settingStudents in an accelerated pharmacy program applied their AD skills during pharmaceutical skills laboratory activities, emphasizing the use of naloxone administration under the standing order. Students then demonstrated their ability to administer naloxone to a “patient” who experienced an emergency after opioid use. FindingsWhile many schools of pharmacy offer either naloxone or AD training to students, none were identified that offered both trainings combined for use with mitigation strategies for opioid management. SummaryThe combination of simulated AD with naloxone administration training was designed as a unique opportunity to foster naloxone education and enhance student understanding and demonstration of naloxone administration. School of pharmacy programs should recognize the opportunity to combine these activities to prepare students for application of statewide naloxone standing orders.

Pharmacy student perception of a remote hypertension and drug information simulation‐based learning experience in response to the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic

AbstractIntroductionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has required pharmacy educators to redesign or create new simulation‐based learning (SBL) activities to ensure achievement of accreditation standards and ensure practice‐ready pharmacists. Little is known regarding student perception of SBL activities conducted across the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) curricula during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic.ObjectiveTo assess first‐year Pharm.D. students' confidence in performing manual blood pressure techniques, drug information, and communication skills through a remote SBL.MethodsA pre‐ and post‐simulation survey was administered to Pharm.D. students enrolled in a first‐year pharmaceutical skills course who completed a remote SBL activity. The students' perception of their confidence performing manual blood pressure technique, utilizing drug information resources, and communication skills was assessed in addition to overall experience and challenges with conducting a remote SBL activity.ResultsA total of 87 students completed the SBL activity. The response rate for the pre‐ and post‐simulation survey were 95% (n = 83) and 62% (n = 54), respectively. Significant improvements in perceived confidence in performing manual blood pressure techniques, utilizing drug information resources, and communication skills were observed. A majority of students agreed or strongly agreed that the remote SBL activity was valuable and allowed for the application of didactic content. Qualitative feedback was analyzed using thematic analysis and indicated that the remote setting was challenging to perform manual blood pressure assessment and to interact with a standardized patient, although the feedback was positive for improving drug information and communication skills. Only five students (9%) who completed the post‐simulation survey reported technology issues.ConclusionThe introduction of a remote SBL activity for first‐year Pharm.D. students improved confidence in ability to perform many essential tasks to provide optimal care for patients with hypertension. This included an improvement in confidence in manual blood pressure assessment, the ability to use drug information resources, and communication skills. We could not conclude whether the improvement in confidence was a direct result of the remote SBL activity. Overall, technology did not appear to be a barrier to the implementation of a remote SBL activity.

Proposed Educational Strategies for A Reformed Pharmacy Curriculum Based on Graduate’s Self-Perceived Assessment of Pre-Service Education

Introduction : Pharmacy practice witnessed dramatic significant changes over the past years worldwide. The traditional role of the pharmacist involving preparation, dispensing and selling of medications is no longer adequate. This has evolved into direct involvement of the pharmacist in the design, implementation, and monitoring of therapeutic plans to produce specific care outcomes. The Bachelor degree in pharmacy at the University of Aden, Yemen, witnessed scarce reviews or evaluation studies on graduates and curriculum introduced in 1995 and unchanged till 2018. Objectives : To (1) assess perception of pharmacists, working in Aden, of their pre-service education and its relevance to current work and (2) analyze the available benchmarks and propose educational strategies that could be addressed in designing and adopting a reformed pharmacy pre-service curriculum in light of results of the study. Methods : A self-administered questionnaire distributed to 220 pharmacists working in urban Aden city with response rate 86% (n=189). Questions covered general personal information; perception of pre-service educational subjects/courses and their relevance to current job; status of respondents’ practice of skills and attitudes acquired during their study. Analysis of the 7-star role of pharmacist is done based on results of the study. Results : Practicing pharmacists work in 5 different settings in Aden, in community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, industrial pharmaceutics, management of medicines and medical supplies and academic pharmacy. Majority marked existence of weak linkage between preservice curriculum and daily work demands. 16 out of the 17 basic sciences were not used in work and to a lesser degree, similar results of pharmaceutical sciences, skills and attitudes. Accordingly, seven educational strategies are proposed. Conclusion : The study showed that pharmacists working in Aden, Yemen, need different knowledge, skills and attitude to be able to perform the current job demands. The results also showed weak link between education and job practice. One of the main challenges facing pharmacy education is the adoption of educational strategies that respond to lack of active acquisition of the needed competencies to produce a “fit-for-purpose pharmacy graduate.” Keywords: pharmacy, pre-service, education, reform, strategies DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/76-01 Publication date: June 30th 2020

Stevens Institute of Technology—Preparing the Next Generation of Pharmaceutical Professionals

In response to a perceived lack of graduate offerings in practical pharmaceutical industry skills that allow recent bachelor’s graduates or young working professionals to hone their abilities and to target their focus specifically towards the pharmaceutical industry, especially in the area of commercial production, Stevens Institute of Technology created the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Engineering (PME) graduate program to provide educational opportunities for the significant pharmaceutical population in the northern New Jersey/metro New York area, as well as worldwide via online offerings. Currently, the program offers two 4-course graduate certificates in (1) Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and (2) Validation, Compliance, and Quality in the Pharmaceutical Industry, and a 10-course (30 credits) Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.

Assessing students’ knowledge regarding the roles and responsibilities of a pharmacist with focus on care transitions through simulation

Background and purposeTo evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-focused transitions of care (TOC) simulation on students' perceptions and knowledge of pharmacist roles in the healthcare continuum. Educational Activity and Setting: Two simulations, highlighting pharmacist roles in various practice settings, were conducted within the Pharmaceutical Skills courses in the third-year doctor of pharmacy curriculum. Patient cases were built utilizing electronic medical records (EMR). Students’ knowledge was assessed before and after the simulations regarding pharmacist involvement in medication reconciliation, reduction in patient readmissions, reduction of inappropriate medication use, roles and communication on an interprofessional team, and involvement with health information technology (HIT) during care transitions. FindingsFifty-one third-year pharmacy students were anonymously evaluated prior to and following the simulation to assess changes in knowledge and perceptions during the fall semester. Thirty-two (62.7%) students completed the pre-simulation and 21 (41.2%) students completed the post-simulation assessments, respectively. In the spring semester, 40 (80%) students completed the pre-simulation and 23 (46%) students finished the post-simulation assessments. Students predominately had community pharmacy work experience (n=28, 55%). Overall, students enjoyed the variety of pharmacist-led encounters throughout the simulation and assessments demonstrated an increase in knowledge after the simulations. SummaryTOC simulations enhance students' understanding of the significant impact that pharmacists have in ensuring continuity of care as members of an interdisciplinary team.

Evaluation of Research Experience Based on the Type of Degree Completed for the Development of Pharmacist-Scientists

"Pharmacist-scientists" are needed in the clinical setting. However, research competency, including logical thinking, differs among pharmacists. This difference stems from the varying experience of research during university and graduate school. Thus, to ascertain the research experience within different educational systems, we evaluated pharmacists in Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital. In most instances, there was a direct correlation between the duration of research (in the laboratory at university or graduate school), and research experience gained, such as independent thinking and presentations at seminars or academic conferences. Respondents who graduated from the recently introduced 6-year pharmaceutical science course had less research experience than those who graduated with a combination 4-year degree and subsequent master's course. Conversely, the number of presentations at academic conferences and the number of published papers postgraduation were independent of research experience during university and graduate school. These results indicate that there is a considerable difference in the research experience during university and graduate school among pharmacists, and this is likely to impact their pharmaceutical skills.

Research of the nomenclature of pharmaceutical specialties in Kazakhstan

Pharmaceutical care, which quality largely depends on the pharmaceutical staff skills, is an integral part of the state system of implementation of the citizens’ rights to protect their health. Concerning this fact, specialists’ professional skills are state controlled and among the objects of relations in the area of remedies state regulation. The existing state control over maintenance personnel involves the implementation of specific actions, including such problem as the pharmaceutical specialties with staff positions harmonization. Aim: the aim of our research was to study the explanation of necessity to expand the range of existing RK pharmaceutical specialties. Concerning the aim of research, the task was to explain from the scientific point of view the necessity to expand the range of existing RK pharmaceutical specialties and the implementation of new specialty «Clinical pharmacist». Methods: The study was carried out by both the analytical and sociological methods. Results: As a result of our sociological research (questionnaires for pharmacists) and literature analysis it was proved the level of professional knowledge and responsibilities of a particular specialty exceed the limits and expand them. Conclusion: Therefore, it follows that pharmaceutical positions range expansion is a pressing question demanding its solution. We suggest the list of pharmaceutical positions must be determined in accordance with the needs of the circulation of remedies sphere in modern conditions

ESCP–SFPC international workshop acquisition of pharmaceutical skills: simulation, serious games, innovative approaches 22–23 June 2015, Nice, France

ESCP–SFPC international workshop acquisition of pharmaceutical skills: simulation, serious games, innovative approaches 22–23 June 2015, Nice, France

PTU-289 Embedding pharmaceutical care into the multidisciplinary team

Introduction Pharmacists traditionally do not get involved in the long-term management of patients with chronic disease. This service development aimed to integrate pharmacy-lead IBD medication optimisation into the IBD Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT). We report our experience of extending our specialist pharmacist’s remit. Method A weekly pharmacist outpatient clinic was established, to initiate immunomodulating drugs and undertake biochemical monitoring. The pharmacist optimised therapy according to blood levels, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and concordance. Strategic and operational management of the biologics infusion clinic was transferred to the pharmacist. A new blood and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) service for immunomodulators and biologics was introduced to optimise therapy decisions. The rapid access (helpline) service was reviewed to see whether the pharmacist could add value. The pharmacist facilitated MDT-approved pathways to initiate and review immunomodulators. A workload and prescription audit was conducted over four months with financial impact assessment. Patient and anonymous colleague feedback was sought. Results In the four months analysed, 14 pharmacist clinics were held, serving 138 patients. 382 patients had blood monitoring, ensuring clinical governance. The biologics infusion clinic expanded to include a cross-speciality services. 65 patients had their immunosupressant therapy adjusted in the TDM service. The pharmacist is gatekeeper for testing and is responsible for optimising therapies (as a non-medical prescriber). The advice sought from the rapid access service was primarily nurse-orientated and the service remains nurse-lead, with pharmacist deputising to maximise resources. In 4 months 142 of 1032 queries were answered by the pharmacist. The MDT reviewed 42 patients on biologics according to the new pathways. The TDM service resulted in a minimum of £60,000 savings for the health economy. 6 of 6 peer-assessors returned overwhelmingly positive reviews of the service and patient feedback was fa. Conclusion Involving the pharmacist in all aspects of the long-term care of patients with IBD enhanced patient safety and standardised treatment and monitoring protocols, whilst individualising therapy. The focus of the MDT shifted to early medicines optimisation, realising considerable cost savings. Interprofessional relationships profited from working closely together / deputising for each other. Embedding pharmaceutical skills into the multidisciplinary team influenced therapeutic decision making, ensuring that services incorporated good medicine management and medicine optimisation principles at conception to guarantee high-quality, compassionate care and strong governance. Disclosure of interest None Declared.

Necessity of research of pharmaceutical departments in the creation of new pharmaceutical skills through technical education of physical assessment

Physical assessment skills are now being more widely accepted by pharmacists and pharmaceutical departments than in the past. This is explained by the realization that pharmacists can prevent serious adverse effects and evaluate drug efficacy for their patients through assessment, thus providing effective medical care. However, is that all physical assessment can provide to pharmacists and pharmaceutical students? These students, in turn, should recognize the "need for skill" and the "pleasure to be gained in acquiring that skill" through the physical assessment performed by doctors. They should also recognize the importance of medical devices (e.g., stethoscope, electrocardiograph and endoscope) and take responsibility for creating their own techniques for their use. Here they will consider valuable pharmaceutical skills. "Yaku-jutsu" is a pharmaceutical diagnosis to determine the time required to achieve maximum beneficial effects and effective drug administration based on that diagnosis. Pharmacists cannot gain public trust unless they relieve a patient's pain using Yaku-jutsu which has been made available to them by the research support of a pharmaceutical department.

Making pharmacists’ patient care services consistent, predictable, measurable

Making pharmacists’ patient care services consistent, predictable, measurable

A qualitative study of physicians' and nurses' experiences of multidisciplinary collaboration with pharmacists participating at case conferences

OBJECTIVES Previous studies have revealed a range of drug-related problems for nursing home and hospital patients. Different attempts to reduce drug-related problems have been tested. Medication reviews performed by pharmacists and subsequent presentation of findings at case conferences is one of these methods. Physicians' and nurses' experiences from multidisciplinary collaboration with pharmacists have to a lesser degree been investigated. This study aims to describe how Norwegian physicians and nurses experience collaborating with pharmacists at case conferences to reduce drug-related problems in elderly patients. METHODS This was a qualitative interview study using systematic text condensation. The setting was nursing homes (long-term care) and hospital wards (gerontology and rheumatology). Four physicians and eight nurses participated and the main outcome was physicians' and nurses' experiences of multidisciplinary collaboration with pharmacists. KEY FINDINGS Organizational problems were experienced including, among others, what professional contribution team members could expect from pharmacists and what professional role the pharmacist should have in the multidisciplinary team. Both professions reported that ambiguities as to when and if the pharmacist was supposed to attend their regular meetings resulted in some aggravation. On the other hand, the participants valued contributions from pharmacists with regard to pharmaceutical skills, and felt that this raised awareness on prescribing quality. CONCLUSIONS Physicians and nurses valued the pharmacists' services and reported that this collaboration improved patients' drug therapy. However, before implementing this service in nursing homes there is a need to make an organizational framework for this collaboration to support the professional role of the pharmacist.