Extended roles for pharmacists in warfarin therapy: Identifying opportunities for pharmacist prescribing
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 2006, 36 (3), pp. 190 - 193
- Issue Date:
- 2006-01-01
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Background: Warfarin has traditionally posed a challenge to clinicians because of its narrow therapeutic index. Extended roles for pharmacists may address some of the problems in warfarin management. International experience has involved anticoagulation clinics in which pharmacists have authority to engage in collaborative prescribing activities with physicians. Aim: To identify opportunities for pharmacist prescribing activities in warfarin management within the hospital setting. Method: Pharmacists from a Sydney teaching hospital were recruited. The first stage involved an audit of pharmacists' interventions in patients receiving warfarin. Stage two involved a focus group discussion to further explore these issues. Results: 9 pharmacists saw 41 warfarinised patients over the 5-day data collection period. Pharmacists saw reason to intervene in the warfarin therapy of 19 (46%) of these patients and a prescribing activity was involved in 16 (84%) of these interventions. Despite these ample opportunities to prescribe, pharmacists felt limited in their ability to use these opportunities. Lack of information about the patient, workloads, medicolegal responsibility, and the need for further training and experience, were cited as the main reasons pharmacists were hesitant to prescribe. It was also suggested that the outpatient setting may be more appropriate to trial a pharmacist prescribing role. Conclusion: There are ample opportunities for pharmacist prescribing in the area of warfarin management. However, practice change is needed before such a role can be taken up in the hospital setting.
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