A training package for primary care nurses in conducting medication reviews: their views and the resultant outputs

To ascertain nurses' views about training in and undertaking of medication reviews and to analyse documented pharmaceutical care issues (PCI) and outputs from nurse reviews.

Primary-care nurses in the UK are increasingly expected to contribute effectively to chronic disease management for example by undertaking medication reviews. There are concerns that nurse education is inadequate for these new roles. Little research is published about nurse medication reviews. A pilot study in one Scottish medical practice demonstrated that, after training in systematic medication review, practice-based nurses could identify medication-related problems. The training, consisting of reading material, including self-assessment questions and a training event, was subsequently offered to all practice-based nurses in the Community Health Partnership (CHP); participants then undertook six reviews to achieve CHP accreditation.

Survey of participant nurses and analysis of completed documentation from reviews.

A self-completion, postal questionnaire distributed three months post-training. Analysis of documentation from reviews for PCI and outputs.

Eighty-one nurses were offered training: 64 (79%) participated; 38 (59%) returned questionnaires. Low confidence levels before training (0, very confident; 6, 16% confident) rose afterwards (8, 21% very confident; 19, 50% confident). Thirty-two (84%) nurses indicated the training had completely or mostly met their needs. A total of 120 nurse reviews were analysed and 188 PCI documented, mean 1.6/patient, with 117 outputs, mean 1.0/patient. Twenty-seven outputs (23%) involved prescribed medicine changes.

A pharmacist-supported training package in medication reviews for primary-care nurses is feasible and generally welcome. The training met the needs of most respondents although concerns were expressed regarding time pressures and knowledge base for extended roles.

Medication reviews are vitally important for both patients and the NHS; this approach may be useful for nurse prescribers and non-prescribers alike although concerns expressed will require attention.