Are UK pharmacists ready for advanced-level practice? A cross-sectional survey of self-assessed development needs

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has developed a new curriculum and credentialling process for advanced pharmacist practice. The aim of this study was to understand the self-reported advanced practice capability of UK pharmacists using this curriculum.

The study was a cross-sectional electronic survey. The inclusion criterion was that the participants be registered pharmacists practising in the UK in any professional sector. Participants rated, on a 5-point Likert scale, their confidence that their current practice aligns to the described level in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Core Advanced Curriculum. Predictors of overall confidence that their current practice aligned to all curriculum outcomes were analysed using binomial regression.

Nine hundred and eighty-eight pharmacists participated. The median age was 42 years; 75.2% were female and the median length of registration was 17 years. A low proportion of pharmacists reported confidence across all outcomes (19.8%). The research domain had the lowest self-reported confidence (26.9%). Other domains had higher levels of reported confidence: professional practice (40.9%); leadership and management (43.8%); person-centred care and collaboration (54.3%); and education (57.6%). The strongest predictors of overall confidence across the whole curriculum were completion of an advanced clinical assessment skills module, being a frequent prescriber, and self-identifying as an advanced practice pharmacist.

Only a minority of respondents self-reported confidence across the whole Core Advanced Curriculum. A strategy to develop and embed four pillar working for all pharmacists, as well as approaches to address systemic barriers for those working less than full-time may help deliver more 'advanced practice-ready' pharmacists.