Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the differences in the views of Australian and Portuguese renal nurses on the provision of clinical pharmacy services in outpatient dialysis centres.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Australian and Portuguese renal nurses. The interviews were recorded and thematically content-analysed.
Key findings: Three main themes were identified: nurses' opinions towards pharmacists' current role; nurses' opinions towards pharmacists' future role; and future clinical pharmacy services to be provided. While Australian nurses appeared to be aware of pharmacists' competencies and viewed a role for pharmacists within the team, Portuguese nurses showed low expectations of pharmacists and regarded them as external to the team.
Conclusions: Previous or lack of exposure to pharmacists' clinical skills and the existence of health policies that promote interprofessional collaboration appear to influence nurses' views.
Keywords: Australia; Portugal; dialysis centres; nurses; pharmacists.
© 2013 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.