New Zealand pharmacists’ views regarding the current prescribing courses: questionnaire survey
Mariam Ghabour
1 * , Caroline Morris 2 , Kyle Wilby 3 , Alesha Smith 1
1 School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
2 Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
3 College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
Handling Editor: Tim Stokes
Abstract
New Zealand pharmacists must complete a joint prescribing course offered by Otago and Auckland universities only, to be qualified as pharmacist prescribers.
To identify knowledge and perceptions of New Zealand registered pharmacists, who are not pharmacist prescribers, on: pharmacist prescribing roles, courses and perceived barriers and facilitators to course uptake.
Participants comprised registered practising New Zealand pharmacists (n = 4025), across all New Zealand regions. Invitations to participate in a questionnaire survey were sent in March 2021. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics.
The response rate was 12% (482/4025), with 94% community pharmacists. Almost two-thirds (65%) had over 10 years of working experience. Nearly all (95%) agreed that pharmacist prescribing would improve healthcare delivery in New Zealand. Most reported that barriers to pharmacist prescribing course uptake were funding, lack of institutional support, up-to-date pharmacological/pharmaceutical knowledge, and 2 years of experience in collaborative health team prerequisites for enrolment, finding medical supervisors, and lack of remuneration for prescribing roles.
Pharmacist prescribing in New Zealand is still in its growing phase. Optimising uptake of prescribing courses and role requires a multi-level approach including all stakeholders. Government/policymakers should consider pharmacist prescribing training and remuneration in their funding plans. Employing institutions should provide required time and human resources (staff backfills). Training providers should consider methods of course delivery and assessment that are suitable for trainees in full-time employment.
Keywords: barriers and facilitators, education, New Zealand pharmacists, perceptions, pharmacist prescribing, prescribing course, questionnaire survey, training.
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