4th year PharmD students’ perceived preparedness to prescribe in British Columbia

Abstract

New regulations in British Columbia have authorized pharmacists to prescribe for minor ailments and contraception. It is unknown whether the current University of British Columbia’s Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy (E2P PharmD) Program has prepared its students for this expansion in prescribing. The current study aimed to assess 4th-year E2P PharmD students’ perceived preparedness to prescribe as they transition from the role of students to newly graduated pharmacists and to identify if any changes need to be made to the current PharmD curriculum. The study used survey methodology and contained questions associated with preparedness to prescribe. Questions consisted of Likert scales, ranking, multiple response, and open-ended formats. The web-based survey was made available to 4th-year E2P PharmD students. Twenty-four students responded (response rate=11%). Most students reported feeling pharmacists should prescribe for minor ailments (92%) and contraception (88%). Students felt least knowledgeable/confident in considering contraindications or warnings, prescribing correct frequency and prescribing correct duration. Students were most concerned with time restraint (22%) and increased workload (20%). They were least concerned with documentation requirements (12%) and knowledge base (7%). In open-ended responses, students expressed a need for further review on the permissible conditions of prescribing, or accessible information for support during the prescribing service. Our study’s findings suggest that 4th-year E2P PharmD students agree with prescribing for minor ailments and contraception and generally feel they are comfortable with the knowledge they have currently received on the permissible conditions. However, barriers and a need for further education have been recognized as factors that will deter future pharmacists from implementing prescribing into their pharmacy practice.