Nurses' perceived barriers and facilitators to the implementation of nurse prescribing: Delphi study and focus group
Authors: Seck Faty , Masot Olga , Carey Nicola , Roca Judith , Botigué Teresa , Paraíso Pueyo Elena , Lavedán Santamaría Ana 
Published: November 2023

Aim

To obtain consensus on barriers and facilitators to nurse prescribing following its recent introduction in Spain.

Design

A three round online Delphi survey and focus group.

Methods

An exploratory method was used with three consecutive rounds of questionnaires based on anonymity and feedback, and a focus group. The study was carried out with primary care, specialized care, socio‐health care and manager nurses.

Results

On the basis of the Delphi study that was conducted, a list of 15 barriers and 18 facilitators of nurse prescribing was obtained. However, no general consensus was found with respect to the prioritization of these barriers/facilitators. The analysis of the results of the focus group confirmed the information obtained from the Delphi study. The main barriers highlighted were dependence on the figure of the physician, insufficient training in pharmacology, a lack of institutional support and the limited list of products that could be prescribed. The key facilitators were academic knowledge and ongoing training and education, independence in the functions and responsibilities of the nursing profession, adaptation to new roles and autonomy in the case of chronic care processes.

Conclusion

Nurses were generally positive about the introduction of nurse prescribing. The commitment of nurses to training and their accreditation as prescribers (internal forces) and health policy and nursing management (external forces) play a fundamental role in supporting the basis of nurse prescribing and ensuring that it is developed with the identified support resources, such as staff training and the provision of the materials necessary for its proper implementation, all with the aim of guaranteeing quality healthcare.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Strong models of nurse prescribing are being considered globally to address population needs. The results can help the future implementation of non‐medical independent prescribing and provide guidance to the government and society on the interventions that can be used to consolidate it.

Impact

What problem did the study address? By 2027, the world's population will receive more than 4.5 trillion doses of medicine each year. However, the WHO estimates a projected shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030. Inadequacies with traditional physician‐led care systems mean that new approaches are imperative to maintain patient access to prescription medicines, with NP being a key element in this regard. In Catalonia (Spain), the accreditation process for nurses as prescribers was implemented in 2021. It is therefore of vital importance to question and consult the nurses themselves, the main promoters of the process, to find out their perceptions and thus be able to take them into consideration in the implementation process.

What were the main findings? A total of 15 barriers and 17 facilitators were identified. The main perceived barriers are dependence on the figure of the physician, insufficient training in pharmacology during undergraduate studies and a lack of institutional support. The main perceived facilitators are academic knowledge and ongoing education and training, independence in nursing functions and responsibilities, and adaptation to new roles and tasks.

Where and on whom will the research have an impact? These results can contribute to improving NP implementation in Spain and serve as a reference for other countries, especially where NP education and training have only recently been instigated or are in the planning process.

Reporting Method

Standards for reporting qualitative research: a synthesis of recommendations. SRQR.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.