title: Pharmacists' and general practitioners' pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills.
abstract: Understanding differences in the pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills of pharmacists and physicians is vital to optimizing interprofessional collaboration and education. This study investigated these differences and the potential influence of work experience. The pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills of pharmacists, general practitioners (GPs), and trainees were compared, using a written assessment; 294 participants were included. Overall scores (mean ± SD) ranged from 69.3% ± 6.5% to 76.5% ± 9.5% for basic knowledge, 70.3% ± 10.8% to 79.7% ± 8.4% for applied knowledge, and 66.3% ± 21.1% to 84.7% ± 20.7% for pharmacotherapy skills (analysis of variance all P < .05). The pharmacists had the highest scores for all domains (P < .05), with the exception of pharmacist trainees, who had comparable scores for basic knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills (both P > .05). The GPs scored the lowest for pharmacotherapy skills (P < .05). More work experience was associated with better knowledge of applied pharmacology among pharmacists (by 2% per 10 work-years), but with poorer pharmacotherapy skills among pharmacists and GPs (by 3% and 4% per 10 work-years, respectively). In conclusion, pharmacists and GPs differ in their knowledge and skills, and these differences become more pronounced with more work experience. In general, pharmacists outperform pharmacist trainees, whereas GP trainees outperform GPs. These differences could be important for interdisciplinary collaboration and education.
authors: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Den Bosch, the Netherlands.|Department of Geriatric Medicine and Expertise Centre Pharmacotherapy in Old Persons (EPHOR), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Carolina J P W
authors: CJ
authors: Keijsers
authors: Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Anne J
authors: AJ
authors: Leendertse
authors: SIR Institute for Pharmacy Practice and Policy, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors: Adrianne
authors: A
authors: Faber
authors: Department of Geriatric Medicine and Expertise Centre Pharmacotherapy in Old Persons (EPHOR), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Jacobus R B J
authors: JR
authors: Brouwers
authors: Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Dick J
authors: DJ
authors: de Wildt
authors: Department of Geriatric Medicine and Expertise Centre Pharmacotherapy in Old Persons (EPHOR), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Paul A F
authors: PA
authors: Jansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists; D010600:Pharmacology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: education; interdisciplinary; pharmaceutical care; trainees; work experience