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Task analysis of home care pharmacy
A M Bemus1, C M Lindley, W T Sawyer
1Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
Summary
This study surveyed home care pharmacists, finding that distributive and clinical tasks are performed most frequently and are considered most important. These findings highlight the significant role of pharmaceutical care in home health settings.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Practice
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Home care pharmacy is a growing field requiring specialized skills.
- Understanding the daily activities and priorities of home care pharmacists is crucial for optimizing services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the demographics of home care pharmacists.
- To determine the frequency and perceived importance of various home care pharmacy tasks.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to 1420 home care pharmacy sites in August 1994.
- Respondents rated 47 tasks on frequency and importance.
- Data from 393 usable questionnaires from 326 sites were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Respondents were predominantly male, held B.S. degrees, and had over six years of experience.
- Independent companies were the most common employer type.
- Distributive and clinical tasks were performed most frequently and rated as highly important.
Conclusions:
- Home care pharmacists dedicate significant time to tasks aligned with pharmaceutical care.
- The study provides essential baseline data on home care pharmacy practice demographics and task prioritization.