Physician-pharmacist collaborative care for dyslipidemia patients: knowledge and skills of community pharmacists.
BACKGROUND
In a physician-pharmacist collaborative-care (PPCC) intervention, community pharmacists were responsible for initiating lipid-lowering pharmacotherapy and adjusting the medication dosage. They attended a 1-day interactive workshop supported by a treatment protocol and clinical and communication tools. Afterwards, changes in pharmacists' knowledge, their skills, and their satisfaction with the workshop were evaluated.


METHODS
In a descriptive study nested in a clinical trial, pharmacists assigned to the PPCC intervention (n = 58) completed a knowledge questionnaire before and after the workshop. Their theoretical skills were evaluated with the use of a vignette approach (n = 58) after the workshop and their practical skills were assessed by direct observation with study patients (n = 28).


RESULTS
The mean (SD) overall knowledge score was 45.8% (12.1%) before the workshop; it increased significantly to 89.3% (8.3%) afterwards (mean difference: 43.5%; 95% CI: 40.3%-46.7%). All the pharmacists had an overall theoretical-skill score of at least 80%, the minimum required to apply the PPCC in the trial. From 92.9% to 100% of the pharmacists' interventions with study patients complied with the treatment protocol.


CONCLUSIONS
In primary care, a short continuing-education program based on a specific treatment protocol and clinical tools is necessary and probably sufficient to prepare pharmacists to provide advanced pharmaceutical care.
Villeneuve
Julie
J
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, and Research Team in Primary Care, Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Laval, Laval, Quebec H7M 3L9, Canada.
Lamarre
Diane
D
Lussier
Marie-Thérèse
MT
Vanier
Marie-Claude
MC
Genest
Jacques
J
Blais
Lucie
L
Hudon
Eveline
E
Perreault
Sylvie
S
Berbiche
Djamal
D
Lalonde
Lyne
L
D002170:Canada; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010594:Pharmacies; D010595:Pharmacists; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents