Perceptions of a group of hospital pharmacists and other professionals of the implementation of clinical pharmacy at a high complexity public hospital in Brazil

• Published in: BMC health services research Vol. 18; no. 1; p. 242
• Main Authors: Alcântara, Thaciana Dos S, Onozato, Thelma, Araújo Neto, Fernando de C, Dosea, Aline S, Cunha, Luiza C, de Araújo, Dyego C S A, Pimentel, Déborah, Lyra Junior, Divaldo P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 04.04.2018; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Brazil; Clinical pharmacy; Community Pharmacy Services - organization & administration; Female; Focus Groups; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hospital; Hospital pharmacies; Hospitals, Public; Humans; Implementation of health services; Interviews as Topic; Male; Management; Middle Aged; Organizational Innovation; Perceptions of health professionals; Pharmacists - psychology; Pharmacy Service, Hospital; Professional Role; Qualitative Research; Perceptions of health professionals; Hospital; Clinical pharmacy; Implementation of health services
• ISSN: 1472-6963; 1472-6963
• DOI: 10.1186/s12913-018-3036-7

During the process of implementation of clinical pharmacy services, internal and external factors may favor or hinder the incorporation of care into the hospital routine. This study aimed to understand the perceptions of a group of hospital pharmacists and other professionals of the implementation of clinical pharmacy at a high complexity public hospital in Brazil. A focus group with 16 pharmacists and interviews with tree key stakeholders including managers in the pharmaceutical, medical, and nursing profession were conducted to understand their perceptions of the implementation clinical pharmacy services in a high complexity public hospital in Brazil. The service proposal was presented to the selected participants before conducting the focus group. Professionals with an overview of the hospital and influence on the relevant departments for the implementation of clinical pharmacy at the institution were selected. Data collected were transcribed and analyzed using the Bardin Content Analysis technique. Data analyzed were systematized into categories and registration units. The methodology involves the organization and analysis of reported content to make inferences. The data obtained were divided into four categories: "Perception of the current situation", "Implementation expectations", "Barriers to implementation", "Implementation facilitators". Participants discussed the stagnation of clinical activities of the pharmaceutical profession in Brazil, a reality that results from a lack of clinical training in the country. Pharmacists expressed their expectations for changes in professional performance. According to the managers, such services would positively affect clinical outcomes for patients. Gaps in academic education, lack of knowledge, and poor communication skills were barriers reported in this study. Pharmacists' clinical experience has been reported to facilitate the provision of services. This study highlights factors that may influence the implementation of clinical pharmacy services in the institution analyzed, such as resistance, fear, and frustration as barriers, as well the experience in clinical pharmacy of some pharmacists in the institution was one of the facilitators most cited by participants. This knowledge may aid future planning for the implementation of clinical pharmacy in hospitals.