Introduction:
A study was undertaken to examine the feasibility of using the
physician-based Informed Shared Decision Making (ISDM) framework
for teaching pharmacy students competencies to effectively develop
therapeutic relationships with patients.
Objectives: To: (1) assess the relevance and importance of the
physician-developed ISDM competencies for pharmacy practice, (2)
determine which competencies would be easiest and hardest to practice,
(3) identify barriers to implementing ISDM in pharmacy practice,
and (4) identify typical situations in which ISDM is or could
be practiced.
Methods: Twenty pharmacists representing 4 different practices
were interviewed using a standardized interview protocol.
Results: Pharmacists acknowledged that majority of the physician-based
competencies were relevant to pharmacy practice; although not
all competencies were considered to be most important. Competency
#1 (Develop a partnership with the patient) was found to be the
most relevant, the most important and the easiest to practice
of all the competencies. While no one competency was identified
as being hard to practice, there were several barriers identified
to practicing ISDM. Finally, pharmacists expressed that patients
with chronic conditions would be the most ideal for engaging in
ISDM.
Conclusion: While pharmacists believed that the ISDM model could
provide a framework for pharmacists to develop therapeutic relationships
with their patients, the group also identified obstacles to engaging
successfully in this relationship.
