Physicians' Practice of Dispensing Medicines: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Patient Safety
• Medical Education

Background:

• Dispensing medication is typically a pharmacist's role.
• Physician dispensing is a neglected patient safety issue with observed practice variations.
• A literature review found no articles on physician dispensing, necessitating exploratory research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore junior physicians' experiences and training in medication dispensing.
• To understand the beliefs and ideas of physicians-in-training regarding dispensing practices.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative exploratory study involving focus groups with physicians-in-training.
• Thematic analysis of transcribed focus group discussions using grounded theory.

Main Results:

• The emergency department was the primary site for physician dispensing.
• Physicians-in-training reported no formal dispensing training.
• Informal training varied in content and effectiveness, yet physicians viewed dispensing as part of their role.

Conclusions:

• Physicians are expected to dispense medications but lack formal training, posing patient safety risks.
• Findings from this single-hospital study raise concerns about the quality and safety of physician dispensing practices.
• Further investigation is needed to address the broader implications for healthcare quality and patient safety.