Identification and evaluation of medication-related issues relating to patient’s own drugs by pharmacy students while on placement in a tertiary hospital

Abstract

Numbers of tables: 3 Supporting Material: 1 Authorship All authors planned and designed this study with Louise Rook and Emily Pearson collecting the data. All authors were involved in the analysis and interpretation of the data and drafted this manuscript. Abbreviations POD -patient's own drug MRI -medication-related issue Study design: descriptive quantitative evaluation study population: undergraduate pharmacy students intervention: novel placement design consisting of students completing patient own drug (POD) checks comparison(s): NA outcomes: number and nature of patient own drug (POD) checks completed ABSTRACT Background Pharmacy students require knowledge of prescribing and supply of medicines; this is achievable through work-based learning. In UK hospitals, pharmacy technicians assess patient's own drugs (PODs) so medicines can be used as they would be at home. Student-led POD checks have not yet been considered as an opportunity for legitimate peripheral participation (LPP). AimTo evaluate an undergraduate pharmacy placement model using POD checking as a way of gaining LPP within a UK tertiary hospital. MethodStudents (n=100) attended nine placements over academic year 2020-2021; they were supervised by a pharmacy technician to complete POD checks. Data were collected concerning student activities and resulting medication-related issues (MRIs); data were descriptively analysed. Results1094 patients were seen by pharmacy students and 296 MRIs identified. Omitted (nonprescribed) medicines were the most common MRI (32.1%), followed by incorrect stock items (16.2%). Most MRIs were medium risk (65.5%). The most common actions/outcomes were handover to another ward member (41.6%) or medication removal (25.3%). ConclusionClinically relevant MRIs relating to PODs can be identified by pharmacy students while experiencing LPP. These activities illustrate scalable work-based learning where pharmacy students can contribute to patient care in relation to the use and supply of medicines.