Adapting Pharmacy Practice: Lessons from COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for healthcare professionals worldwide, including pharmacists. As the pandemic continues to unfold, the need for credible scientific evidence to inform pharmacy practice is more urgent than ever. A recent article titled "Pharmacy practice research priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations of a panel of experts convened by FIP Pharmacy Practice Research Special Interest Group" sheds light on key research priorities that can help pharmacists enhance their practice during these challenging times.
Key Research Priorities
The panel of experts identified several research priorities that span a wide range of topics. These priorities emphasize the importance of grounding research in solid theory and rigorous methods, regardless of the topic area. Here are some of the key priorities:
- Clinical and Cost Effectiveness: Assessing the effectiveness of COVID-19 therapies and vaccines is crucial. Pharmacists need to be involved in evaluating the safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of these agents.
- Pharmaceutical Services and Education Delivery: The pandemic has necessitated the exploration of different models of pharmaceutical services and education delivery. This includes telehealth, remote counseling, and other new service delivery models.
- Interdisciplinary Care: Advancing the roles of pharmacists in interdisciplinary care is essential. This includes fostering teamwork and collaboration with other healthcare professionals to optimize patient outcomes.
- Public Health Preparedness: Pharmacists play a vital role in public health preparedness. Research should focus on developing strategies to ensure pharmacists are well-prepared to respond to health crises.
Implementing Research Outcomes
Pharmacists can implement the outcomes of this research in several ways to improve their skills and practice:
- Stay Informed: Regularly engage with credible scientific publications and resources to stay updated on the latest research findings.
- Participate in Professional Development: Attend webinars, conferences, and workshops to enhance your knowledge and skills in pharmacy practice.
- Collaborate with Peers: Engage in discussions with fellow pharmacists and healthcare professionals to share insights and best practices.
- Advocate for Change: Use evidence-based research to advocate for changes in pharmacy practice and policy that can improve patient care.
Encouraging Further Research
While the panel's recommendations provide a solid foundation, there is still much work to be done. Pharmacists are encouraged to engage in further research to address unanswered questions and explore new areas of inquiry. By doing so, pharmacists can contribute to the development of evidence-based practices that enhance patient care and improve health outcomes.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Pharmacy practice research priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations of a panel of experts convened by FIP Pharmacy Practice Research Special Interest Group.
