EAHP European Statements baseline survey 2015: methodology

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice and Health Services Research
• Medicinal Standards and Policy

Background:

• The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) developed Statements of Hospital Pharmacy to standardize safe and effective medicine use.
• A baseline understanding of awareness and implementation barriers among European hospital pharmacists was needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a baseline of awareness regarding the EAHP Statements of Hospital Pharmacy.
• To identify barriers hindering the implementation of these pharmacy practice standards across European hospitals.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among European hospital pharmacists from January to March 2015, translated into 16 languages across 34 countries.
• The survey comprised three sections: hospital demographics, current pharmacist activity related to each statement, and readiness/ability for implementation.
• A 5-point rating scale was used, with responses of 1 or 2 indicating 'negative responses' and prompting free-text explanations for implementation difficulties.

Main Results:

• The overall survey response rate was 18%, with significant variation across countries; 22 countries achieved over 30% response rate.
• The survey methodology and results provide a foundation for future EAHP surveys.
• Specific recommendations for future surveys include keeping them concise, focusing on capacity/capability barriers, and identifying drivers for change.

Conclusions:

• The survey provides initial insights into the awareness and implementation status of EAHP Statements.
• Methodological improvements are recommended for future EAHP surveys to enhance data collection and response rates.
• Future research should focus on optimizing survey design to better capture implementation barriers and facilitators.