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Development and use of an innovative Gap Finding Tool to create a Pharmaceutical Care Model within a paediatric

Sephorah Falzon1, Nathalie Galea2, Victor Calvagna2

  • 1Department of Pharmacy, 37563University of Malta, Msida, Malta.

Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice : Official Publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners
|November 15, 2021
PubMed

Insights

A new Gap Finding Tool was developed to identify deficiencies in pharmaceutical care at a Paediatric-Adolescent Cancer Ward. Key gaps identified include the absence of a clinical pharmacist and limited access to patient data for medication review.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Pharmacy
  • Paediatric Oncology
  • Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

  • Pharmacists play a crucial role in direct patient care within paediatric cancer wards, coordinating between patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
  • Establishing a robust pharmaceutical care model is essential for optimizing patient outcomes in specialized paediatric settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel Gap Finding Tool (GFT) designed to facilitate the implementation of a pharmaceutical care model.
  • The GFT aims to systematically identify deficits in pharmacy services within a Paediatric-Adolescent Cancer Ward.

Main Methods:

  • The GFT was developed by synthesizing standards from prominent pharmacy organizations: the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists.
  • Content validity of the GFT was confirmed by expert review, followed by a 2-month implementation period in the target clinical setting.

Main Results:

  • The GFT consists of nine sections, each containing an average of eight statements assessing the provision of essential ward-level pharmacy services.
  • Implementation revealed four critical gaps: lack of a dedicated clinical pharmacist, insufficient medicine information resources, limited pharmacist access to patient data for chemotherapy prescription vetting, and inadequate pharmacist input on medicine availability.
  • Areas identified for process optimization included discharge medication advice and documentation procedures.

Conclusions:

  • The developed Gap Finding Tool is an innovative and adaptable instrument for identifying and addressing gaps in pharmaceutical services.
  • The GFT can be effectively utilized in both inpatient and ambulatory clinical settings to evaluate pharmacy practices against national and international standards.
Abstract

Keywords:
Gap finding tooloncologypaediatricspharmaceutical care

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