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More than medication: Evaluating the role of the pharmacist independent prescriber in a community team for learning disabilities and behaviour deemed to be challenging

Graham, Yitka, Gerrard, David, Laight, Samantha, Brown, Rebecca, Keith, Sarah and Hayes, Catherine (2020) More than medication: Evaluating the role of the pharmacist independent prescriber in a community team for learning disabilities and behaviour deemed to be challenging. British Journal of Learning Disabilities. ISSN 1354-4187

Item Type: Article

Abstract

Background
The issues surrounding the prescribing and monitoring of medications for people with learning disabilities and behaviours deemed to be challenging, and are complex in their management for patients, healthcare professionals and carers. The aim of the study was to explore the impact of the Pharmacist Independent Prescriber (PIP) on a medication clinic for people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviours from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and carers in a UK mental health Trust setting.
Methods
Qualitative methods were used to provide an understanding of the participants’ interactions with the pharmacist in the context of the medication clinic. Individual, semi-structured interviews were carried out with staff and carers, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was carried out to identify themes which illuminated the participants’ experiences. Recruitment took place December 2017 – August 2018.
Results
9 participants took part (6 staff and 3 full-time carers). Eight themes were constructed from the data; five from staff and three from the carer cohort: being open to innovation and change in collaborative practice, challenging traditional norms in collaborative approaches to person-centred care, proactive empowerment via maximisation of expertise and resources, supporting and empowering informed decision making, encouraging collaborative debate around medication, establishing authentic and interactive dialogue, gaining trust of the PIP’s role in the management of patients and feeling empowered to challenge ambiguity and inconsistency in prescribing practice.
Conclusion
The PIP is a valued asset, with high levels of interaction between all staff, carers, and an integral aspect of services provided.

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More Information

Depositing User: Yitka Graham

Identifiers

Item ID: 11787
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12323
ISSN: 1354-4187
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/11787
Official URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/b...

Users with ORCIDS

ORCID for Yitka Graham: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6206-1461
ORCID for Catherine Hayes: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3870-2668

Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 27 Feb 2020 14:47
Last Modified: 05 Feb 2022 03:38

Contributors

Author: Yitka Graham ORCID iD
Author: Catherine Hayes ORCID iD
Author: David Gerrard
Author: Samantha Laight
Author: Rebecca Brown
Author: Sarah Keith

University Divisions

Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing > School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Subjects

Sciences > Nursing

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