Exploring the impact of attending an online CPPE return to prescribing (RTP) programme
Authors: Berry H , Tucker C , Kuye Y , Graves A , Brown S 
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Within the Interim NHS people plan, pharmacist prescribers are described as a central part of the multi professional team across primary care networks.1 Non-medical prescribers (NMP) constitute a small proportion of the pharmacy workforce and a proportion of NMPs do not use their qualification.2 CPPE has designed a series of three online workshops to support return to prescribing by improving NMP’s knowledge of law and ethics, improve confidence and discuss barriers and solutions with peers in a safe supportive environment. We routinely evaluate all of our programmes and used this data to inform this study.

Aim

To explore the learner’s feedback following attendance at the online CPPE RTP series of workshops by asking for their views on: the impact of the course on their knowledge of the topic, how exploring the barriers and solutions influenced their prescribing practice and the usefulness of the programme and resources.

Methods

Between March 2020 and July 2022, 119 people attended the CPPE RTP online workshops. Using online post workshop evaluation surveys sent to all attendees, participants were asked to share feedback on their experience of the programme via a course specific survey adapted from the CPPE standard post workshop evaluation. In July 2022 there were 59 responses. The data was analysed using thematic analysis3 to highlight common themes from the free text survey comments. This evaluation considered the intentions of learners at the sessions, follow up surveys would permit the exploration of the impact on sustained practice change. Ethical approval was not required as this was a course evaluation

Results

98% of participants felt that the workshops increased their knowledge of the topic and 97% of participants felt the workshops were thought provoking. Barriers to prescribing were identified included: no defined role (26%), no support (32%), no personal confidence (26%), lack of understanding of prescribing role from GP colleagues (10%), prescribing not in job description, therefore not covered by indemnity (6%). After attending the RTP workshops 70% of pharmacists were using their prescribing qualification and 40% were prescribing more often. The programme evaluation showed 56% of participants felt that sharing and listening to others experiences gave them confidence and support to consider starting to prescribe, 21% of participants found the knowledge and enthusiasm of the CPPE tutors supportive and 16% found discussion of the case studies to be useful. 7% of participants found sign posting to resources helpful.

Discussion/Conclusion

This evaluation demonstrated that the RTP programme helped pharmacists to identify barriers to prescribing and facilitated peer discussion of solutions and of sharing best practice. The course was shown to increase the confidence of participants and facilitate their journey to start prescribing again. Increasing the number of pharmacist prescribers using their qualification has a positive impact on patient care.1 Our research shows that participating in the CPPE return to prescribing workshop series enables pharmacists to return to or start prescribing in practice.

References

1. Interim NHS People plan: the future pharmacy workforce. https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Interim-NHS-People-Plan_June2019.pdf (accessed 19/7/22)

2. Graham-Clarke E, Rushton A, Noblet T, Marriott J (2018) Facilitators and barriers to nonmedical prescribing – A systematic review and thematic synthesis. PLoS ONE 13(4): e0196471. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.019647tics (accessed 19/7/22)

3. Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research a practical guide for beginners. London: SAGE publishers Ltd.