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Australian General Practitioners' Views on Pharmacist Prescribing
Author(s) -
Vracar Dijana,
Bajorek Beata V
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy practice and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2055-2335
pISSN - 1445-937X
DOI - 10.1002/j.2055-2335.2008.tb00811.x
Subject(s) - pharmacist , medicine , remuneration , referral , family medicine , general practice , likert scale , nursing , descriptive statistics , project commissioning , focus group , medical education , publishing , pharmacy , psychology , developmental psychology , statistics , business , mathematics , finance , marketing , political science , law , economics
Aim To explore Australian general practitioners' views on extending prescribing rights to pharmacists, the appropriateness of pharmacist prescribing models, and the influence of general practitioners' characteristics on their preference for a particular pharmacist prescribing model. Method The study consisted of two parts. Part A was a scenario‐based questionnaire using Likert‐scale responses and Part B was a semi‐structured interview. General practitioners were randomly recruited from two Sydney divisions of general practice. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative responses were thematically analysed. Results Completed questionnaires were received from 22/150 general practitioners (response rate 15%), with 10 general practitioners providing additional comments. 10/12 (83%) general practitioners participated in the interviews. Repeat prescribing and prescribing by referral were the most favoured models; 53% of general practitioners rated them as appropriate or somewhat appropriate models of pharmacist prescribing. 6 major themes emerged: focus on safety issues, lack of awareness of pharmacist training and capabilities, division of professional/clinical responsibility, conflict in definition of prescribing versus treating, interference with the general practitioner‐patient relationship and remuneration. Conclusion General practitioners favoured the dependent pharmacist prescribing approach, which is the most widespread practice overseas. The issues raised by the general practitioners need to be addressed before pharmacist prescribing can be pursued in Australia.