Exploring pharmacists' perceptions of using a clinical supervision skills competency tool to reflect and develop...

To date, there are no formal self-reflection tools routinely used by pharmacists within the Australian pharmacy profession. The study involved utilizing the Clinical Supervision Skills Competency Tool (CSSCT) at a metropolitan teaching hospital in Victoria, Australia. It explored pharmacists' perceptions of the CSSCT and its impact on their ability to self-reflect and develop their supervisory practices.

The qualitative study involved adapting the Clinical Supervision Skills Review Tool (CSRT), a clinician-validated tool. Prior to tool completion, participants attended an orientation session on the CSSCT. Thematic analysis and an inductive approach was then applied to data collected from two semi-structured focus group sessions and an online survey, for those not able to attend the focus groups.

A total of 19 pharmacists were recruited and completed the CSSCT. The three major themes regarding the CSSCT identified were: feasibility of the tool, aspects of the CSSCT, and future planning. Use of rating scales and breakdown of the supervisory competencies were perceived to be helpful. Conversely, the tool's length, pharmacists' high workloads and time pressures, were identified as potential barriers to using the tool.

Given pharmacists internationally currently lack a formal tool to enhance their supervisory methods, the CSSCT or similar tools emerge as valuable resources for steering pharmacists towards self-reflection and goal setting. Notably, the CSSCT sheds light on previously overlooked yet critical aspects of clinical supervision in the pharmacy context, including the wellbeing and cultural sensitivity of learners.