Tools used to help community pharmacists implement comprehensive pharmaceutical care.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the tools and processes used in the practice enhancement program (PEP) of the Pharmaceutical Care Research and Education Project to enable community pharmacists to acquire the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to deliver comprehensive pharmaceutical care to elderly ambulatory patients.


METHODS
Independent community pharmacies in Alberta.


METHODS
The PEP was designed to allow self-directed learning in a problem-based environment. The intent was for pharmacists to apply the knowledge they gained to improve drug therapy outcomes.


METHODS
As a systematic approach to providing care, several tools were adapted to help pharmacists execute tasks required by the nine steps of the pharmaceutical care process proposed by Helper and Strand. These tools and processes facilitated (1) self-directed learning about diseases and drugs, (2) acquisition of relevant patient data, (3) a consistent and stepwise approach to the identification and resolution of drug-related problems, (4) documentation of care provided, and (5) continuity of care.


RESULTS
To help pharmacists in the PEP acquire the necessary competency to provide pharmaceutical care, they were required to use the tools and processes described herein to work up and resolve patient problems. Initially, patient problems were presented as paper cases covering a range of acute and chronic problems, including topics applicable to geriatric patients. This was followed by a practicum phase wherein patient problems represented individuals from among their clientele.


CONCLUSIONS
The tools and processes used in the project increased community pharmacists' competency for providing pharmaceutical care, by helping them develop the needed skills, knowledge, and attitudes.
Kassam
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Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. rokassam@unixg.ubc.ca
Farris
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Cox
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Volume
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Cave
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Schopflocher
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Tessier
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D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta; D000465:Algorithms; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records