Internal Medicine Residents' Perceptions of Pharmacist Involvement in Medical Rounds.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Internal Medicine
• Interprofessional Education

Background:

• Physicians recognize clinical pharmacists' value on rounds, but resident perceptions are understudied.
• Understanding resident views on clinical pharmacists is crucial for optimizing roles and interprofessional interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess internal medicine residents' perceptions of pharmacists during acute care rounds.
• Identify preferred recommendation types and topics from pharmacists.
• Examine residents' past experiences with pharmacists on rounds.

Main Methods:

• An online survey assessed resident experiences, preferred recommendations, and perceptions of pharmacy practice.
• Respondents used a 5-point Likert scale for experience and perception items.
• Ranking questions evaluated preferred recommendation formats.

Main Results:

• A majority of residents (33.75% response rate) strongly desire pharmacists on their rounding teams.
• Residents prefer in-person recommendations on anticoagulants, antimicrobial stewardship, and renal dose adjustments.
• Knowledge of pharmacists' education and training was limited, impacting perceptions of their advanced practice capabilities.

Conclusions:

• Internal medicine residents report positive experiences and desire ongoing pharmacist involvement in rounds.
• Pharmacists should prioritize in-person recommendations and educate residents on their training to foster advocacy.
• Enhancing resident understanding of pharmacist capabilities can improve interprofessional collaboration.