Multidimensional work sampling to study the activities of decentralized clinical pharmacists

Self-reported multidimensional work sampling (MDWS) was used to study the activities of decentralized clinical pharmacists at six hospitals in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, in March through June 1989. A community hospital, a university hospital, and a hospital associated with a health maintenance association were selected in each city, and pharmacists at each site who provided clinical services were recruited. Each pharmacist wore a random reminder device and recorded the activity during which the device sounded by writing on a card numbers assigned to describe work activity, contact, location, and function. Of 6609 classifiable observations, 34.5% (2280) were of clinical activities and 35.8% distributive activities. Pharmacists spent 28.6% of their clinical time reviewing and assessing patients' charts, 17.1% on clinical rounds, 15.9% on activities related to therapeutic drug monitoring, 10.2% providing drug information, 11.6% attending or giving formal education, 6.1% doing research, and 2.6% attending meetings. The average pharmacist spent less than 10 minutes each day with patients but spent a substantial portion of time providing clinical services to other health professionals. Self-reported, multidimensional work sampling appears to be a valuable method for describing and monitoring decentralized pharmacists' work activities at multiple sites and work settings.