Helping GP practice-based pharmacists to implement their improvement skills

This study is based on the premise that the deployment of improvement skills results in improved patient care. However, we know that many who are trained in quality improvement do not go on to apply these skills in practice.

The role of practice-based pharmacists is relatively new and are generally fulfilled by lone practitioners working in isolation from their professional peers. Given the increasing prominence of this role in the UK, it is judicious to examine how pharmacists in these positions improve patient care through the application of Quality Improvement techniques and exploring barriers to them doing so. While exchanging ideas for improving practice with peers is an effective way to develop individuals’ clinical skills, a Community of Practice also fosters an increased sense of community and shared professional identity.

In this study, we explore how and in what circumstances being part of a Community of Practice supports Practice-Based Pharmacists to use their improvement skills to improve their practice.