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. 2015 Apr-Jun;13(2):553.
doi: 10.18549/pharmpract.2015.02.553. Epub 2015 Jun 15.

An exploratory study of the patient experience of pharmacist supplementary prescribing in a secondary care mental health setting

Rhian E Deslandes  1 , Dai N John  2 , Paul N Deslandes  3
Affiliations

An exploratory study of the patient experience of pharmacist supplementary prescribing in a secondary care mental health setting

Rhian E Deslandes et al. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2015 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Background: Management of chronic disease has become an increasing challenge to the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. The introduction of supplementary prescribing was seen as a possible mechanism to address the needs of this patient group. Individuals with mental illness were considered particularly suitable for management in this way.

Objective: To explore the views and experiences of patients with mental illness on being managed by a pharmacist supplementary prescriber in a secondary care outpatient setting.

Methods: A study of patient experiences utilising semi-structured interviews and self-completion diaries was adopted. Eleven patients participated in the study. Data were analysed utilising code and retrieve, and content analysis respectively.

Results: Patients valued the increased accessibility to, and continuity of, their prescriber compared with their experience of other healthcare professionals. Patients reported they were able to trust the pharmacist's knowledge of medication, were provided with sufficient information regarding reasons for treatment and side effects, and felt that they had an active role in decisions concerning their healthcare.

Conclusions: This exploratory study showed that patients had positive views of being managed by a supplementary prescriber. However, it should be noted that the number of participants was small. It is therefore important that further, more wide ranging research is conducted to evaluate pharmacist prescribing within mental health settings.

Keywords: Attitude to Health; Drug Prescriptions; Great Britain; Mental Disorders; Pharmacists; Professional Role.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

Ethical approval was obtained from Dyfed Powys Research Ethics Committee.

Funding: This work was supported by the Galen award from the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust (now Pharmacy Research UK).

References

    1. London: Department of Health; 2004. Department of Health. Improving Chronic Disease Management.
    1. London: Department of Health; 1999. Department of Health. Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines. Final Report.
    1. Emmerton L, Marriott J, Bessell T, Nissen L, Dean L. Pharmacists and prescribing rights: review of international developments. J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2005;8(2):217–225. - PubMed
    1. London: Department of Health; 2005. Department of Health. New ways of working for psychiatrists: Enhancing effective, person-centred services through new ways of working in multidisciplinary and multi-agency context. Final report. ‘But not the end of the story’.
    1. London: Medicines Control Agency and Department of Health; 2002. Medicines Control Agency and Department of Health. Proposals for supplementary prescribing by nurses and pharmacists and proposed amendments to the prescription only medicines (human use) order 1997. Consultation document MLX 284.

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