The Development Of Medication Safety Competence Self-assessment Tool For Community Pharmacies In Finland

• By: KALLIO, Sonja (The Association of Finnish Pharmacies, Finland)
• Co-author(s): Mrs Henna Kyllönen (The Association of Finnish Pharmacies, Helsinki, Finland)
  Dr Sonja Kallio (The Association of Finnish Pharmacies, Helsinki, Finland)
  Mrs Tiina Koskenkorva (The Association of Finnish Pharmacies, Helsinki, Finland)
  Ms Emilia Emmi Maria Mäkinen (Clinical Pharmacy Group, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland)
  Dr Niina Mononen (Clinical Pharmacy Group, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland)
  Professor Marja Airaksinen (Clinical Pharmacy Group, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland)
  
• Abstract:

  Background information
  
  The National Medication Safety Programme for Community Pharmacies in Finland (Valo 2021-2026) aims to enhance medication and patient safety in primary care by developing medication safety culture and practices within community pharmacies. A foundation for the programme’s implementation is medication safety competences in community pharmacies. Self-assessment is a valuable method for identifying current competences and areas for development. The results of the self-assessment can be used by pharmacy management to create a current state analysis of the competences and a long-term plan for continuous learning enabling individual and organizational-level competence development.
  
  Purpose
  
  To develop a Medication Safety Competence Self-Assessment Tool for Community Pharmacies in Finland.
  
  Method
  
  The Medication Safety Competence Self-Assessment Tool for Community Pharmacies was developed as part of the Valo programme in collaboration with experts from The National Coordination Group of Professional Development of Pharmacy Services (AATE). The tool is based on the WHO Patient Safety Curriculum Guide: Multiprofessional Edition, a previously developed medication safety competence self-assessment tool for pharmacy students, and experiences of a group of experts in medication safety and community pharmacy practice. A systems approach to medication risk management in community pharmacies was applied as a theoretical framework. The tool was piloted among a convenience sample of community pharmacists and pharmacy students (n=28), and then modified in expert workshops based on feedback. The clarity and usability of the tool were further tested with representatives of the target group (n=5).
  
  Results
  
  The Medication Safety Competence Self-Assessment Tool for Community Pharmacies assesses medication safety competence in six areas:
  1.Principles and basic concepts of medication safety (16 items)
  2.Medication safety culture (10 items)
  3.Risk management in the medication use process – identifying and preventing errors (10 items)
  4.Pharmacotherapy (18 items)
  5.Medication counselling as a systemic defence (16 items)
  6.Management and development of safe medication practices in the community pharmacy context (20 items)
  
  Sections 1-5 are for all community pharmacists. Section 6 focuses on the management and development of medication safety and is intended for pharmacy managers and medication safety pharmacists (responsible pharmacists for coordinating medication safety work in their workplace). All competences are self-assessed on a five-point scale ranging from excellent competence to no competence. The self-assessment is conducted using a web-based self-assessment instrument and can be saved for personal reference. All assessments are saved anonymously in a nationwide database maintained by the Association of Finnish Pharmacies for pharmacy practice development and research.
  
  Conclusion
  
  The Medication Safety Competence Self-Assessment Tool can be used to identify community pharmacists’ current competence and educational needs in medication safety. It may help pharmacy managers and medication safety pharmacists to develop medication safety culture and practices in their pharmacy. The tool can be used to target continuing education on both individual and organizational levels. The nationwide data can be used to describe medication safety competences in community pharmacies at the national level. The tool is also suitable for pharmacy students to self-assess their medication safety competence and understanding related key concepts, such as systems thinking.