Identifying inducements and barriers in developing a community health center pharmacy practice based research network

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To identify and describe practical incentives and barriers for community health center pharmacists in adopting a practice based research network (PBRN) that facilitates sustainable collaboration. METHODS: Directors of pharmacy at Community health centers listed as members of Arizona Association of Community Health Centers (AACHC), with on-site pharmacies, were contacted via telephone. During initial contact an IRB approved script was used to recruit the pharmacy director’s participation, at which time the subject’s disclaimer form was read and an appointment for a future phone interview was scheduled. Phone Interviews were conducted using a standardized questionnaire, and all results were manually recorded on a standardized data collection form. Data collected included, site specific information including the: educational background of the pharmacy director, and his or her perceived inducements and barriers to participating in a pharmacy based PBRN with the University of Arizona. RESULTS: Phone interviews were completed by 8 directors of pharmacy, 4 women (50%) and 4 men (50%). A total of 5 participants (62.5%) had a BS degree, 2 (25%) had PharmD degrees and 1 (12.5%) had both as BS and a PharmD degree. The mean length of time in current position was 5.56 yrs (SD= 4 yrs.). 75% of the participants indicated that they considered working with the University of Arizona (UofA) as an inducement, the same number of participants felt that their staff and practice as a whole would also consider it an inducement. Overall participants indicated that both their personal (75%) and staff‘s (87.5%) motivation to improve the pharmacy profession was considered an inducement, as well as their opportunity for professional growth (75%). All of the participants (100%) indicated they did not have adequate staffing to support research at this time and therefore felt it was a barrier to participation. When asked about resources as a whole, including staff, time and technology 87.5% of the participants felt this was a barrier. Other common barriers were; anticipated time requirements (75%), current schedule/time allowances (75%), staff’s outside commitments (75%). Out of the 8 participants only 2 (25%) are currently participating in PBRNS at this time, 3(37.5%) have research ideas that they are interested in working on, and 3(37.5%) indicated that they were not currently participating nor did they have any current interests. The major themes identified as inducements to participation were patient benefit, time/staffing involvement, and professional growth. CONCLUSIONS: The most common barriers to participating in a PBRN were: working with the UofA, motivation to improve the profession of pharmacy and the opportunity for professional growth. The most common inducements were staffing, current resources, anticipated time requirements, current schedules and outside commitments.