A Qualitative Study Exploring the Role of Pharmacists in Medical Student Training for the Prescribing Safety Assessment

Five years after the introduction of the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) in the UK, the role pharmacists play to help prepare medical students for this challenge is uncertain. Our study explored pharmacists' perceptions about their role in undergraduate medical training for the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA). One hundred and seventy-nine prospective participants from UK hospitals and education and training boards were emailed an interview schedule aimed at ascertaining their current involvement in undergraduate medical education, particularly the preparation for PSA. Responses received via email were thematically-analysed. A total of 27 hospital pharmacists and 3 pharmacists from local education and training boards participated in the interviews. Pharmacists were positive about their involvement in medical student training, recognising the added value they could provide in prescribing practice. However, respondents expressed concerns regarding resource availability and the need for formal educational practice mentoring. Despite a low response rate (17%), this research highlights the potential value of pharmacists' input into medical education and the need for a discussion on strategies to expand this role to maximise the benefits from having a pharmacist skill mix when teaching safe prescribing.