TY - JOUR
T1 - Pharmacists’ perspectives on potential pharmacist prescribing
T2 - a nationwide survey in the Netherlands
AU - Kaymakci, Bilge
AU - Philbert, Daphne
AU - Hazen, Ankie C.M.
AU - Heringa, Mette
AU - Kwint, Henk Frans
AU - Zwart, Dorien L.M.
AU - van Dijk, Liset
AU - Kälvemark Sporrong, Sofia
AU - Kempen, Thomas G.H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2025/4
Y1 - 2025/4
N2 - Background: Pharmacist prescribing legislation aims to enhance healthcare quality and accessibility. However, in many countries, like the Netherlands, it has not yet been legally established. Aim: To investigate pharmacists’ perspectives on potential pharmacist prescribing in the Netherlands. Method: An online survey using a questionnaire that was distributed via e-mail and electronic newsletters to most practicing pharmacists in the Netherlands during October and November 2023. The questionnaire was based on previous literature, further developed during an international conference with pharmacists and piloted with Dutch pharmacists. Agreement with statements about potential prescribing models, settings, preconditions, and perceived benefits and risks was measured using a 4-point Likert scale. Data were analysed descriptively. Results: In total, 625 participants from community pharmacy (n = 432; 69.1%), hospital pharmacy (n = 149; 23.8%), or other/combined settings (n = 44; 7.0%) completed the questionnaire. Most pharmacists (somewhat) agreed with the introduction of an independent prescribing model with limitations (n = 538; 86.1%) or a model dependent on collaborative agreements with physicians (n = 471; 75.4%). A minority (n = 245; 39.2%) supported independent prescribing with diagnostic authority. The precondition that participants most frequently (somewhat) agreed with was access to health records (n = 607; 97.1%). The most (somewhat) agreed-upon benefits were enhanced professional position of pharmacists (n = 574; 91.8%) and reduced workload for other prescribers (n = 573; 91.7%). Increased workload for pharmacists (n = 495; 79.2%) was the most (somewhat) agreed-upon identified risk. Conclusion: Pharmacists in the Netherlands are generally supportive of an independent but limited or collaborative pharmacist prescribing model. These findings support further investigations into the potential introduction of pharmacist prescribing legislation.
AB - Background: Pharmacist prescribing legislation aims to enhance healthcare quality and accessibility. However, in many countries, like the Netherlands, it has not yet been legally established. Aim: To investigate pharmacists’ perspectives on potential pharmacist prescribing in the Netherlands. Method: An online survey using a questionnaire that was distributed via e-mail and electronic newsletters to most practicing pharmacists in the Netherlands during October and November 2023. The questionnaire was based on previous literature, further developed during an international conference with pharmacists and piloted with Dutch pharmacists. Agreement with statements about potential prescribing models, settings, preconditions, and perceived benefits and risks was measured using a 4-point Likert scale. Data were analysed descriptively. Results: In total, 625 participants from community pharmacy (n = 432; 69.1%), hospital pharmacy (n = 149; 23.8%), or other/combined settings (n = 44; 7.0%) completed the questionnaire. Most pharmacists (somewhat) agreed with the introduction of an independent prescribing model with limitations (n = 538; 86.1%) or a model dependent on collaborative agreements with physicians (n = 471; 75.4%). A minority (n = 245; 39.2%) supported independent prescribing with diagnostic authority. The precondition that participants most frequently (somewhat) agreed with was access to health records (n = 607; 97.1%). The most (somewhat) agreed-upon benefits were enhanced professional position of pharmacists (n = 574; 91.8%) and reduced workload for other prescribers (n = 573; 91.7%). Increased workload for pharmacists (n = 495; 79.2%) was the most (somewhat) agreed-upon identified risk. Conclusion: Pharmacists in the Netherlands are generally supportive of an independent but limited or collaborative pharmacist prescribing model. These findings support further investigations into the potential introduction of pharmacist prescribing legislation.
KW - Drug prescribing
KW - Health policy
KW - Non-medical prescribing
KW - Pharmacists
KW - Surveys and questionnaires
KW - Task shifting
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85210765617&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11096-024-01842-7
DO - 10.1007/s11096-024-01842-7
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85210765617
SN - 2210-7703
VL - 47
SP - 392
EP - 402
JO - International journal of clinical pharmacy
JF - International journal of clinical pharmacy
ER -