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Which Pharmacists Contribute to High-Level Pharmacotherapy Audit Meetings with General Practitioners?

Junior Researcher, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands

Rolf van Hulten, PharmD PhD

Senior Researcher, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University

Marjolein Kramer, MSc

Senior Researcher, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University

Liset van Dijk, PhD MSc

Pharmaceutical Science Student, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, Netherlands

Eibert R Heerdink, PhD

Assistant Professor, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University

Hubert GM Leufkens, PharmD PhD

Professor, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University

Peter P Groenewegen, PhD

Professor, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research; Department of Sociology and Department of Human Geography, Utrecht University

Reprints: Dr. Heerdink, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.082, 3508 TB Utrecht, Netherlands, fax 0031 30 253 9166, e.r.heerdink{at}pharm.uu.nl

BACKGROUND: In the Netherlands, community pharmacists and general practitioners (GPs) collaborate in pharmacotherapy audit meetings (PTAMs) to optimize pharmacotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To identify associations between the quality level of PTAMs and characteristics of pharmacists.

METHODS: We used a cross-sectional questionnaire design in a Dutch general practice and community pharmacy setting to estimate the contribution of pharmacists to the quality level of PTAMs. The questionnaire was sent to 123 community pharmacies working closely with 104 GP practices. The outcome variable was the quality level of PTAMs. The questionnaire provided information on 4 topics that were used as independent variables: characteristics of the PTAMs, provision of pharmacotherapy activities, characteristics of the pharmacists, and characteristics of the pharmacies.

RESULTS: In total, 109 (88.6%) pharmacists completed the questionnaire, with 103 participating in 62 different PTAMs. Seventeen pharmacists participated in level 1 PTAMs (lowest level), 57 in level 2, 21 in level 3, and 8 in PTAMs at the highest level. The multinomial logistic regression identified only one significant association: pharmacists who participated in the highest quality level reported that they undertake initiatives in PTAMs (OR 2.98; 95% CI 1.07 to 8.26) more frequently compared with pharmacists participating on the lowest level.

CONCLUSIONS: In light of existing evidence, the role of pharmacists in PTAMs seems to be important. Pharmacists should create a distinct profile of their expertise, allowing them to professionalize PTAMs by undertaking more initiatives. PTAMs offer pharmacists a great opportunity to become integral members of the prescribing process.

Key Words: community pharmacy, general practitioner, pharmacotherapy

Published Online, August 15, 2006. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1H180