Stakeholder expectations, experiences, and perceived outcomes: Implementation of a practice-integrated hospital pharmacist foundation residency program

Yu Ting Sim; Carolyn Murray; Sally Marotti; Saravana Kumar

doi:10.1016/j.cptl.2023.07.015

Stakeholder expectations, experiences, and perceived outcomes: Implementation of a practice-integrated hospital pharmacist foundation residency program

Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2023 Sep;15(9):808-816. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2023.07.015. Epub 2023 Aug 4.

Authors

Yu Ting Sim¹, Carolyn Murray², Sally Marotti³, Saravana Kumar⁴

Affiliations

¹ Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia Pharmacy, South Australia Health, Adelaide, Port Road, South Australia 5000, Australia. Electronic address: Yu.Sim@sa.gov.au.
² Professor in Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: Carolyn.Murray@unisa.edu.au.
³ Lead Pharmacist South Australia Pharmacy, South Australia Health, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia; Adjunct Clinical Lecturer Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: Sally.Marotti@sa.gov.au.
⁴ University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: Saravana.Kumar@unisa.edu.au.

PMID: 37543522
DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2023.07.015

Abstract

Introduction: In 2017, a practice-integrated hospital pharmacist foundation residency program, modelling well-established international programs, was made available to all eligible hosting hospital pharmacy service providers in Australia. The South Australian public hospital pharmacy service implemented the nation's first accredited statewide residency model that also incorporates enrolment and completion of a tailored post-graduate qualification. This study aimed to explore stakeholder perspectives pertaining to implementation and adoption of the South Australian public hospital pharmacy statewide residency program.

Methods: Eligible participants were recruited via purposeful sampling. Stakeholders overseeing preceptors and residents as well as those with authority to influence decision-making for future program planning were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Each interview was audio-recorded, transcribed, and organized using qualitative data analysis software. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to data synthesis, and findings were discussed through the lens of the PRECEDE logic framework.

Results: Thirty-three participants were consented and de-identified. Three themes were identified: resource capacity for program sustainability; current and expected future impact on workforce development and career progression; and conflicts around uniformity, selectivity, and individual motivations.

Conclusions: Research findings affirmed program benefits to overall workforce development whilst highlighting persisting program sustainability dilemmas. Findings have highlighted the need for a cost benefit analysis of each aspect of the residency program and the importance of tailoring to individual and site differences. Several strategies were recommended to optimize resources for increased capacity, to better support residents and preceptors, and to reduce program intensity.

Keywords: Hospital pharmacy; Pharmacy education; Pharmacy residency; Professional development; Workforce development.

MeSH terms

Australia
Hospitals
Humans
Internship and Residency*
Motivation
Pharmacists
Pharmacy Service, Hospital*