SATISFACTION WITH CLINICAL PHARMACY SERVICES PROVIDED TO SPECIAL CARE HOMES IN SASKATCHEWAN
Date
2004-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Residents in long-term care facilities use a high number of medications and are at greater risk for adverse drug events compared to elderly persons not living in a long-term care facility. Pharmacists as part of a multidisciplinary team can help optimize drug therapy and prevent adverse drug events. The Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists (SCP) has developed Standards of Practice for pharmacists providing pharmacy services to all residents of long-term care facilities. The purpose of this study
was to compare the current provision of, and expectation for clinical pharmacy services provided to special care homes in Saskatchewan. This study also compared different service expectations between those who receive pharmacy services (Directors of Care) and those who provide pharmacy services (pharmacists) to possibly identify a barrier to providing clinical services to special care homes. Other perceived barriers for pharmacists providing clinical services to special care homes were also documented.
The study was a cross-sectional design using a questionnaire. Questions were based on SCP's Standards of Practice for Pharmacists Providing Services to Long-Term Care Residents. A sample of 149 Directors of Care from 152 special care homes in Saskatchewan and 125 pharmacists were surveyed. SPSS 11.0 for Windows was used to perform the analysis.
This study identified significant quality of service gaps for all clinical services studied. The service gaps were more negative for care homes without a designated "in- house" pharmacist compared to care homes with a pharmacist. Director of Care actual expectations for pharmacy services were higher than pharmacists perceived them to be, indicating a potential barrier. The most frequently reported barrier to providing clinical pharmacy services by pharmacists was time with 94.9% indicating "sometimes" or
"always" a barrier.
The Standards of Practice are the expected level of pharmacy care for residents living in long-term care facilities. The data suggest there was a quality of service gap between the expected level of care and the level of care provided. Pharmacists, their professional associations, the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Directors of Care and the Regional Health Authorities will need to work together to eliminate the barriers for pharmacists providing clinical services to long-term care facilities.
Description
Keywords
services to long-term care facilities, Barriers, service gaps
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Pharmacy and Nutrition