Pharmaceutical technical assistants on hospital wards: Qualitative interdisciplinary perspectives

To explore (1) the experiences of pharmaceutical technical assistants (PTAs) and pharmacists regarding the implementation of PTAs in ward-based pharmaceutical care, and (2) interprofessional perspectives of PTAs, pharmacists, and nurses to identify opportunities for improved collaboration and work processes.

A two-phased qualitative descriptive study was conducted: (1) semi-structured interviews with PTAs and pharmacists involved in ward-based medication dispensation (October 2023-June 2024); (2) focus groups with PTAs, pharmacists, and nurses to explore interprofessional perspectives. Participants were purposively sampled and data analysed using thematic analysis in NVivo 1.6.1.

Semi-structured interviews (n = 12) revealed five main themes: (1) role and responsibilities, (2) continuity of pharmaceutical technical assistants' allocation to nursing wards, (3) competences and education, (4) uniformity and standardized procedures, and (5) communication and interprofessional collaboration. Participants emphasized that clearly defined roles and consistent assignments were essential for successful integrating PTAs into ward-based pharmaceutical care. Standardized procedures and ongoing education were also considered important to improve coordination and support interprofessional collaboration. Pharmacists highlighted the valuable contribution of PTAs in medication distribution and stock management, improving overall efficiency.Focus group (n = 3) participants (n = 20) expressed a need for structured communication processes and clearly defined roles to support collaboration. Effective communication was regarded as critical for fostering mutual understanding, reducing errors, and enhancing medication safety and care quality.

This study shows that unclear roles, fragmented communication, and limited clinical preparation hinder pharmaceutical technical assistants in ward-based care, while fixed ward allocation, structured communication, and targeted training can improve collaboration and medication safety.