• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.85-90
• /
• 2002

The aim of this study was to examine the current turnover status of hospital pharmacists and to analyze the factors which affected the turnover of them after the separation of prescribing and dispensing practice. We surveyed 19 managers of hospital pharmacies and 154 hospital pharmacists. Results are as follows. Pharmacist manpower of hospital pharmacies was only $63.99\%$ in tertiary hospitals and $76.78\%$ in general hospitals respectively of the number of pharmacists before the separation of prescription and dispensing practice. The ratio of those who left hospital pharmacies during the period of January 2000 and October 2001 was $80.23\%$ for tertiary hospitals, and $100.84\%$ for general hospitals. Decrease in the number of pharmacists brought the increase of work load and night duty. Major factors which affected the turnover of hospital pharmacists were found as following: income gap between hospital pharmacists and community pharmacists, increasing workload especially at night and on holidays, infrequent chance for the promotion, and low chance to provide clinical pharmacy services after the separation of prescribing and dispensing practice. Adequate manpower is the basic factor for providing hospital pharmacy services and improving clinical pharmacy services. The study suggested that proper number of hospital pharmacists is to be ensured through strengthening the legal requirement for the hospital pharmacists and improving health insurance reimbursement rate for the pharmaceutical services at hospital.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.347-354
• /
• 2018

Objective: This study was to investigate and develop a training program that integrated and strengthened clinical competence and capacity of hospital pharmacists which would be implemented at the pharmacy department of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. Methods: We assessed the training programs of hospital pharmacists in the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan and compared those of major hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi provinces in Korea. The survey assessed the satisfaction on the current educational programs for pharmacists at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital and a newly designed education program was suggested. Results: The major differences of the programs among the Korean hospitals and Mokdong Hospital were the training period and contents of the entry-level pharmacist education program. The overall satisfaction of the training program was >3 points on 5-Likert scale in the survey. There was no significant difference of the satisfaction level based on the employment period of pharmacists. The pharmacists were in more than 7 training programs of clinical support work. We proposed the clinical support training for the new pharmacists to be separated from orientation and concentrated on actual work duty. In order to improve the competency, it was encouraged to participate the in-house seminar or certify the related fields provided by Korean Society of Health-system Pharmacists. Conclusion: The education program was assessed among different countries and hospitals of Korea. We suggested to update education program in the hospital to enhance pharmacists' competency.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.36-53
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of intent to leave of hospital pharmacists. The independent variables contain three groups of determinants: environmental variables(job opportunity and external support), psychological variables(met expectations, growth desire, self-efficacy, and positive/negative affectivity) and structural variables (power, legitimacy, job variety, job significance, workload, physical environment, job security, pay, internal support, job growth, and promotional chances). The sample used in this study consists of 252 pharmacists working at hospitals in Seoul City, Inchon City and Kyunggi Province. Data were collected with self- administered questionnaires from Oct. 24 to Nov. 14 in 2001 and analyzed using path analysis. The results of this study indicate that the following variables, listed in order of size, have significant negative effects on intent to leave of hospital pharmacists; met expectations, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, promotional chances, and job variety. Job opportunity was found to have significant positive effect on the intent to leave of hospital pharmacists. Implications for hospital administrators and discussions for further research were suggested.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.37-51
• /
• 2002

It has been 2 years since the implementation of the separation of prescription and drug dispensing policy. This study analyzes the effects of the policy on the job contents and personnel structure of hospital pharmacy. The main purposes of the analysis are to determine if the policy has causes the increase of professional activities of pharmacists in hospital and to investigate whether the hospital pharmacy is equipped with enough manpower to provide high quality pharmaceutical service as intended by the policy. The level of professionality of pharmacists' activities is measured by the number of activities of direct involvement in inpatient care such as participation in patient rounding, medication consultation, the number of hospital committee the pharmacists involved and the number of continuous education pharmacists took. The adequacy of personnel structure to provide high quality pharmaceutical care is measured by the level of compliance to the governmental standard of hospital pharmacy personnel. In order to collect the data, surveys were performed for two periods: year 1999 (before the implementation of the policy) and year 2001 (after the implementation of the policy). The results show that the pharmacists' participation in inpatient rounding decreased and that the inpatient medication history management activities, operation of ward pharmacy, participation in hospital committee increased. In personnel structure, the average number of pharmacist per hospital decreased and the number of prescription processing per pharmacist increased. Based on the results this study concludes that the professional activities of hospital pharmacists has increased a little and there were structural changes in hospital pharmacy service activities to increase the professionalism in providing care. However, the pharmacy departments were understaffed hampering the strive to increase the provision of professional pharmaceutical service in hospitals.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.135-142
• /
• 2023

Background: Pharmacists communicate with a variety of healthcare experts to prevent medication errors. Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR) is a tool used for concise and accurate communication. In 2018, we developed the pharmacy-SBAR (P-SBAR) to deliver pharmacists intervention more quickly and effectively through quality improvement activities. Objectives: This study evaluates the efficacy of P-SBAR on pharmacists' intervention activities before and after the implementation of P-SBAR applications. We assessed the impact of P-SBAR on reducing the burden of intervention work, promoting pharmacists' participation, and enhancing the acceptance rate. Methods: This is a retrospective study of the two groups before and after P-SBAR implementation. All pharmacists' intervention records during two periods (2016-2017 and 2019-2020) were extracted from the data warehouse system at Kyunghee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul. The outcome was the number of inpatients and pharmacists who participated in the prescription monitoring activity, the number of interventions, and the physicians' acceptance rate. Results: Although the total number of inpatients decreased (364,753 vs. 348,229), the number of pharmacists who participated in intervention activity increased (monthly mean: 15.8 vs. 18.0, p=0.001). The total number of interventions (2,767 vs. 4,389), the frequency of full acceptance (2,018 vs. 3,710), and the monthly acceptance rate increased significantly (73.8% vs. 83.8%, p<0.001). Conclusion: P-SBAR improved accessibility and convenience by digitalizing the intervention activities performed in an offline environment. Improvement in work burden and acceptance rate using P-SBAR is expected to contribute toward reducing medication errors.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.209-215
• /
• 2015

The aim of the research was to explore post-registration training opportunities for NHS hospital pharmacists which contributes to promote structural reform of the professional development and lifelong learning for Korean hospital pharmacists. In UK, all pharmacists are required to complete at least 9 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) entries per each year to maintain their professional registration. Types of accredited postgraduate qualification (part-time) in Pharmacy Practice available for hospital pharmacists are Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert, year 1), Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip, year 2), Master of Science (MSc year 3), and Professional Doctorate in Pharmacy programme (DPharm, 4-5 years or more). Clinical pharmacy diploma is more likely to become a minimum qualification in order to progress whilst working for the NHS. Pharmacy independent prescribers are allowed to prescribe all medications except cocaine, dipipanone, and diamorphine for the purpose of treating addiction within their competencies. NHS pharmacists are also classified by band point system depending on their practical/clinical knowledge and skills which starting from band 5 (Pre-registration pharmacist) up to band 9. Various learning and development options are also offered including teaching sessions, conferences and local forums.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Drug can be hazardous for people if misused although they are useful for their indication. In urgent incidences such as overdose, proper treatment for intoxication can save patients' lives. In emergent case regarding drug overdose, pharmacists should know how to provide correct information including antidote to other healthcare providers. However, in Korea, there is neither regular class nor education material regarding detoxification. Therefore, the object of our study is to investigate the perception of pharmacists about it. Method: We surveyed hospital pharmacists by means of self-reporting questionnaire in order to investigate the pharmacists' perception of detoxification treatments from May $12^{th}$ 2012 to August $10^{th}$ 2012. The questionnaire comprised of demographic information, interest in detoxification treatment (inquiry from patients and education about antidote), knowledge of antidote, effective drug search route and perception of the need for education and stocking materials about antidotes). Results: It included total 281 hospital pharmacists from 30 hospitals in S. Korea. Of them, only 16.7% have been questioned about drug overdose from patient or representative and 35% have learned about antidotes in case of drug overdose through education program of Korean association of hospital pharmacist or university. About 98% thought that education and stocking materials about frequently overdosed drug and antidotes are helpful for patients in emergent case. Also, the percentage of correct answer of each questions about antidotes were higher in educated group ($p{\leq}0.001$). The more work years are, the percentage of correct answer of each questions are higher ($p{\leq}0.001$). Conclusion: In conclusion, it will be helpful for reducing damage by drug overdose that pharmacists take regular education about antidote for all pharmacist and pharmacy student. In addition, preparing and keeping booklet for Korean Style-antidote in pharmacy is needed currently for protecting public health.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.161-169
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study is to survey on the pharmacists' medication teaching service for topical steroids in regions without separation of dispensary from medical practice. The questionnaire was sent to 199 pharmacists who work inregions without separation of dispensary from medical practice via mail, e-mail or fax. 112 out of 199 pharmacists requested have answered the survey (response rate 56.28%). The questionnaire was composed of 4 categories with demographic characteristics, generally explained contents, adverse effects and precaution in pregnancy, breastfeeding and children. We analyzed the questionnaire by the 6 items with reference to the practical guidelines for medication teaching service. The medication teaching service for topical steroids in terms of generic name, physical characteristics, efficacy, usage and dosage, warning and precaution has been well provided by pharmacists in regions without separation of dispensary except for means and duration of optimal storage. The majority of pharmacists provided their patients with 4 and more kinds of items (69.64%), but the generally recommended 4 kinds of items such as generic name, efficacy, usage and dosage, warning and precaution were provided in as low as 48.22% of the respondents. These results show that the medication teaching service for topical steroids in terms of means and duration of optimal storage (45.54%) and the generally recommended 4 kinds of items have not been enough provided by pharmacists in regions without separation of dispensary. Taken together pharmacists in these regions should make a proper guideline for medication teaching service that can prevent the adverse effects of topical steroids.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.238-245
• /
• 2015

Background: Pharmacy schools newly adopted a 6-year program strengthening clinical knowledge since 2011 in Korea. The clinical training under the guidance of preceptors at hospital sites is a requisite for pharmacy students during the last year of undergraduate course. It has been rarely studied on the hospital pharmacists' perspective regarding being a preceptor or teaching pharmacy students. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the hospital pharmacists' intention toward student training and to identify the relevant factors among the individual pharmacists' characteristics and working environment within the theoretical frame of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Method: A mail-survey was conducted for pharmacists working in tertiary hospitals in Seoul and Incheon. The survey questionnaire consisting of 131 questions with a 5-likert scale was developed for investigating pharmacists' attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and the intention to teach pharmacy students as well as other demographic variables. To estimate the construct validity of components, factor analysis was conducted and Cronbach's alpha was calculated to estimate the reliability of the observed variables. Statistical analyses of one-way variance analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed using SPSS 18.0. Results: The survey response rate was 53% (116/210) and the three constructs of attitude (r = .519), subjective norm (r = .233) and perceived control (r = .392) have appropriate correlations with the intention, proving the appropriateness of using the TPB model. Pharmacists working in inpatient (mean = 3.45) and outpatient clinics (mean = 3.34) generally showed positive intention for teaching. The attitude (${\beta}=.432$, p < 0.01) and perceived control (${\beta}=.270$, p < .01) constructs were significant predictors of the intention. Both age (r = 0.246, p = 0.017) and length of career (r = 0.310, p = 0.002) were positively related with the perceived control. Conclusion: Hospital pharmacists showed generally positive intention to provide student training in spite of the concern on their limited perceived behavioral control. Future research to find the actual barriers pharmacists faced in educating students need to be conducted.

• Journal of Neurocritical Care
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.110-118
• /
• 2018

Background: The role of clinical pharmacists in medication therapy to improve clinical and economic outcomes has been reported in the literature. This study was conducted to analyze the changes in details of medication interventions before and after the introduction of clinical pharmacists into the care of neurocritical care unit (NCU) patients, and to evaluate the economic effects of clinical pharmacists by calculating the avoidance cost. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted reviewing the electronic medical records from June 2013 to May 2014 (before), and from June 2016 to May 2017 (after). We calculated the number and rates of intervention, the acceptance rates of it, and also reviewed the list of interventions. We calculated avoidance cost if there was no intervention. Results: The monthly mean number of interventions increased from 8.0 (${\pm}5.7$) to 31.7 (${\pm}12.8$) (P<0.001) and the frequency of intervention also increased from 0.8% to 1.6% (P=0.003). The most frequently provided pharmacist intervention was nutritional support before introduction of clinical pharmacists and discussions on the medication plan after. The number of classified interventions was 14 before introduction of clinical pharmacist services and 33 after. The calculated cost avoidance associated with a clinical pharmacists' integration was 77,990,615 won per year. Conclusion: Introduction of clinicals pharmacist into the NCU was associated with increased intervention rates and expanded types of clinical interventions. The cost avoidance achieved by the pharmacists' interventions can be further explored to evaluate if similar expansions of pharmacists' services achieve similar results in other settings.