Pharmacy practice research in the hospitals of South East Thames regional health authority, England

摘要

Pharmacy practice research is a relatively new discipline which is vital to the development of the pharmacist's professional role, both in the hospital service and in community practice. In 1991, a pharmacy practice research group was set up in South East Thames regional health authority, England, and its members set as a priority the need to develop a regional database of previous and ongoing pharmacy practice research that would be easily accessible to pharmacists within the region and elsewhere. At the same time, the opportunity was taken to survey the perceived barriers to practice research within the region.The survey demonstrated a steady increase in practice research projects undertaken within the region over the past decade, although this partly reflected an increase in the number of research projects imposed by preregistration training requirements or postgraduate qualifications. The most common reason for initiating research was to support a local service development; only 19 per cent had been initiated as a result of “personal interest”. Collaborative research with other professions, but not between pharmacists, was reported. A disappointingly low rate of publication of project results was noted. The main barriers to research were identified as lack of time and lack of funding. The survey results have enabled measures that might encourage practice research within the region to be identified and implemen