Physicians' and nurses' perceptions of the factors influencing the implementation of paediatric clinical pharmacy services in Hong Kong: a qualitative study

Conor Ming-Ho Sin, Chi Huynh, Ian D Maidment

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To identify barriers and facilitators that influence the implementation of paediatric clinical pharmacy services in Hong Kong public hospitals from physicians' and nurses' perspectives.

METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted based on semistructured interviews of physicians and nurses who worked in the field of paediatrics in four public hospitals in Hong Kong. Interviews were held via telephone conversations using spoken Cantonese which were audio recorded, then translated and transcribed directly into English by the research team. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis and reflexivity was engaged through member checking, making field notes and reporting using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies checklist.

RESULTS: A total of six barriers and five facilitators were identified from interviewing 17 participants, which included 7 physicians and 10 nurses. The barriers identified were the public's lack of understanding and recognition of clinical pharmacists, a culture of medical dominance, lack of resources and heavy workload, the need for a more transparent and defined role of clinical pharmacist at the institutional level, lack of proactive approach and involvement in direct patient care activities. The facilitators identified were the belief in the improvement of patient outcomes and the overall pharmaceutical service efficiency, trust and confidence in clinical pharmacy services, filling the clinical gap as a medicine information provider, and direct and coherent communication as a multidisciplinary team member.

CONCLUSIONS: Physicians and nurses reported that the implementation of paediatric clinical pharmacy services was adequate, but several key barriers were identified at both the external and internal levels.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
Early online date4 Aug 2023
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 4 Aug 2023

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2023, European Association of Hospital Pharmacists. Published
by BMJ. This article has been accepted for publication in the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 2023 following peer review, and the Version of Record can be accessed online at: [https://doi.org/10.1136/ejhpharm-2023-003796]. Reuse of this manuscript version (excluding any databases, tables, diagrams, photographs and other images or illustrative material included where a another copyright owner is identified) is permitted strictly pursuant to the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License (CC-BY-NC 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Physicians' and nurses' perceptions of the factors influencing the implementation of paediatric clinical pharmacy services in Hong Kong: a qualitative study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this