title: Training pharmacists to deliver a complex information technology intervention (PINCER) using the principles of educational outreach and root cause analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the training undertaken by pharmacists employed in a pharmacist-led information technology-based intervention study to reduce medication errors in primary care (PINCER Trial), evaluate pharmacists' assessment of the training, and the time implications of undertaking the training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six pharmacists received training, which included training on root cause analysis and educational outreach, to enable them to deliver the PINCER Trial intervention. This was evaluated using self-report questionnaires at the end of each training session. The time taken to complete each session was recorded. Data from the evaluation forms were entered onto a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, independently checked and the summary of results further verified. Frequencies were calculated for responses to the three-point Likert scale questions. Free-text comments from the evaluation forms and pharmacists' diaries were analysed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All six pharmacists received 22 h of training over five sessions. In four out of the five sessions, the pharmacists who completed an evaluation form (27 out of 30 were completed) stated they were satisfied or very satisfied with the various elements of the training package. Analysis of free-text comments and the pharmacists' diaries showed that the principles of root cause analysis and educational outreach were viewed as useful tools to help pharmacists conduct pharmaceutical interventions in both the study and other pharmacy roles that they undertook. The opportunity to undertake role play was a valuable part of the training received.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings presented in this paper suggest that providing the PINCER pharmacists with training in root cause analysis and educational outreach contributed to the successful delivery of PINCER interventions and could potentially be utilised by other pharmacists based in general practice to deliver pharmaceutical interventions to improve patient safety.
authors.affiliation: NHS Rushcliffe Clinical Commissioning Group, Easthorpe House, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Caroline J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Avery
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000193:education*; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D060891:Root Cause Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: educational outreach; human error theory; medicines management; pharmacist training; root cause analysis