Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: To evaluate the effect on the incidence and nature of pharmacists’ drug utilization review (DUR) interventions of including patient diagnosis on electronic prescription (e-prescription) orders. Methods: This prospective pre-post evaluation was conducted in the outpatient pharmacy of a federally funded community health center over two consecutive four-week periods. During the pre-phase, a clinical pharmacist in the clinic’s onsite pharmacy prospectively reviewed the e- prescriptions received from the clinic’s primary care providers using a standard prospective DUR process and recorded all therapy-related interventions. In the post-phase, providers added a diagnosis on each e-prescription. Interventions were documented using a standard intervention form that has been used in previous research. Chi square and t-tests were used to assess the nominal and interval data, respectively (α=0.05). The Institutional Review Boards of the two collaborating universities approved the study. Main Results: Pharmacist intervention rates on problematic e-prescription orders significantly decreased (4% pre vs. 1% post, p<0.001). Drug-drug interactions (17.5% pre vs. 20% post) and missing information (15% pre vs. 20% post) were the most frequently cited problems that prompted the need for the pharmacist’s intervention. The medication classes most frequently involved in interventions were antibiotics (53% pre vs. 50% post) and central nervous system agents (17% pre vs. 10% post). After receiving clarification, the pharmacist most often dispensed the prescription (33.3% pre vs. 38.4% post) and educated the patient regarding their treatments (18.8% pre vs. 7.7% post). Conclusions: In this small pilot project, including the patient’s diagnosis on e-prescription orders significantly reduced the incidence of pharmacists’ DUR-related interventions. If duplicated in larger studies, our results suggest that providing pharmacists with additional targeted clinical information could reduce confusion and uncertainty thereby decreasing the number of unnecessary pharmacist contacts with prescribers and improving workflow and efficiency for both.

Class of 2017 Abstract / Objectives: To evaluate the perceptions of the pharmacy staff on prescription errors, efficiency, and difficulty of use before and after implementation of a new pharmacy computer system. Subjects: Employees of El Rio Community Health Center outpatient pharmacies located at the Congress, Northwest, and El Pueblo Clinics. Methods: This study was of a retrospective pre-post design. A 5-question survey on error rates and workflow efficiency was distributed to pharmacists and technicians 6 months after a new computer system had been implemented. Participants of the study included employees of El Rio Community Health Center outpatient pharmacies who were employed with El Rio during the time of transition between the old and new computer systems. Results: Questionnaire responses were completed by 10 (41.7%) technicians and 6 (66.7%) pharmacists at three El Rio Clinics. There was an increase in perceived efficiency between the new (Liberty) (n=17, 94.4%) and old (QS1) (n=11, 61.1%) computer systems (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in perceived difficulty of use, most common types of errors, error rates, and time to fix detected errors. Conclusions: While there were no significant differences between Liberty and QS1 in perceived difficulty of use, most common types of errors, error rates, and time to correct detected errors, there was a significant difference in the perceived efficiency, which may have beneficial implications.

Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: To evaluate the effect on the incidence and nature of pharmacists’ drug utilization review (DUR) interventions of including patient diagnosis on electronic prescription (e-prescription) orders. Methods: This prospective pre-post evaluation was conducted in the outpatient pharmacy of a federally funded community health center over two consecutive four-week periods. During the pre-phase, a clinical pharmacist in the clinic’s onsite pharmacy prospectively reviewed the e-prescriptions received from the clinic’s primary care providers using a standard prospective DUR process and recorded all therapy-related interventions. In the post-phase, providers added a diagnosis on each e-prescription. Interventions were documented using a standard intervention form that has been used in previous research. Chi square and t-tests were used to assess the nominal and interval data, respectively (α=0.05). The Institutional Review Boards of the two collaborating universities approved the study. Main Results: Pharmacist intervention rates on problematic e-prescription orders significantly decreased (4% pre vs. 1% post, p<0.001). Drug-drug interactions (17.5% pre vs. 20% post) and missing information (15% pre vs. 20% post) were the most frequently cited problems that prompted the need for the pharmacist’s intervention. The medication classes most frequently involved in interventions were antibiotics (53% pre vs. 50% post) and central nervous system agents (17% pre vs. 10% post). After receiving clarification, the pharmacist most often dispensed the prescription (33.3% pre vs. 38.4% post) and educated the patient regarding their treatments (18.8% pre vs. 7.7% post). Conclusions: In this small pilot project, including the patient’s diagnosis on e-prescription orders significantly reduced the incidence of pharmacists’ DUR-related interventions. If duplicated in larger studies, our results suggest that providing pharmacists with additional targeted clinical information could reduce confusion and uncertainty thereby decreasing the number of unnecessary pharmacist contacts with prescribers and improving workflow and efficiency for both.

Esta pesquisa tem por finalidade propor um modelo de automação e padronização do processo de controle da prescrição médica e dispensação de medicamentos no Brasil, baseado no Sistema Autenticador e Transmissor (SAT) aplicado ao controle fiscal do comércio varejista e implementado no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Busca-se analisar o cenário atual de prescrição médica no país, suas características operacionais, os problemas cada vez mais frequentes ligados ao comércio irregular de medicamentos e o uso abusivo de substâncias controladas. São apresentadas as medidas adotadas para o controle do setor no Brasil, em Portugal e nos Estados Unidos da América, bem como seus requisitos e grau de operacionalização. Com base na lacuna encontrada nas ações adotadas pelo Brasil, apresenta-se a motivação do presente trabalho, a busca pelas características do cenário brasileiro e a respectiva não aderência do mesmo às propostas internacionais, principalmente pelo fato dessas demandarem infraestrutura técnica, ordenamento jurídico e disponibilidade de investimentos incompatíveis. Diante de referida necessidade, buscou-se em outras áreas um modelo de controle de processos que fosse aderente à realidade brasileira apresentada, razão pela qual uma solução encontrada foi a utilizada para o controle do comércio varejista, por meio do equipamento SAT (Sistema Autenticador Transmissor), que é responsável pela geração de Cupons Fiscais Eletrônicos. Assim, o trabalho consiste em utilizar os conceitos traçados para o modelo fiscal e adaptar às necessidades da prescrição médica, propondo um novo modelo de automação e controle do processo de prescrição e dispensa de medicamentos baseado na Receita Médica Eletrônica (RM-e). / This research aims to propose a model of automation and standardization of the process of control of medical prescription and dispensing of medicines in Brazil, based on the Authentication and Transmission System (Sistema Autenticador Transmissor - SAT) applied to the fiscal control of the retail trade and implemented in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The aim is to analyze the current scenario of medical prescription in the country, its operational characteristics, the increasingly frequent problems related to irregular drug trade and the abusive use of controlled substances. The measures adopted to control the sector in Brazil, Portugal and the United States of America, as well as their requirements and degrees of operation are presented. Based on the gap found in the actions adopted by Brazil, the motivation of the present study is the search for the characteristics of the Brazilian scenario and its non-adherence to the international proposals, mainly because they require technical infrastructure, legal order and availability Incompatible investments. In view of this need, a process control model was searched in other areas that adhered to the Brazilian reality presented, which is why a solution found was used to control the retail trade, through the SAT (Authentication and Transmission System), which is responsible for the generation of Electronic Tax Coupons. Thus, the work consists of using the concepts outlined for the fiscal model and adapting to the needs of the medical prescription, proposing a new model of automation and control of the prescription and dispensing process based on Electronic Medical Prescription (Receita Médica Eletrônica RM-e).

Esta pesquisa tem por finalidade propor um modelo de automação e padronização do processo de controle da prescrição médica e dispensação de medicamentos no Brasil, baseado no Sistema Autenticador e Transmissor (SAT) aplicado ao controle fiscal do comércio varejista e implementado no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Busca-se analisar o cenário atual de prescrição médica no país, suas características operacionais, os problemas cada vez mais frequentes ligados ao comércio irregular de medicamentos e o uso abusivo de substâncias controladas. São apresentadas as medidas adotadas para o controle do setor no Brasil, em Portugal e nos Estados Unidos da América, bem como seus requisitos e grau de operacionalização. Com base na lacuna encontrada nas ações adotadas pelo Brasil, apresenta-se a motivação do presente trabalho, a busca pelas características do cenário brasileiro e a respectiva não aderência do mesmo às propostas internacionais, principalmente pelo fato dessas demandarem infraestrutura técnica, ordenamento jurídico e disponibilidade de investimentos incompatíveis. Diante de referida necessidade, buscou-se em outras áreas um modelo de controle de processos que fosse aderente à realidade brasileira apresentada, razão pela qual uma solução encontrada foi a utilizada para o controle do comércio varejista, por meio do equipamento SAT (Sistema Autenticador Transmissor), que é responsável pela geração de Cupons Fiscais Eletrônicos. Assim, o trabalho consiste em utilizar os conceitos traçados para o modelo fiscal e adaptar às necessidades da prescrição médica, propondo um novo modelo de automação e controle do processo de prescrição e dispensa de medicamentos baseado na Receita Médica Eletrônica (RM-e). / This research aims to propose a model of automation and standardization of the process of control of medical prescription and dispensing of medicines in Brazil, based on the Authentication and Transmission System (Sistema Autenticador Transmissor - SAT) applied to the fiscal control of the retail trade and implemented in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The aim is to analyze the current scenario of medical prescription in the country, its operational characteristics, the increasingly frequent problems related to irregular drug trade and the abusive use of controlled substances. The measures adopted to control the sector in Brazil, Portugal and the United States of America, as well as their requirements and degrees of operation are presented. Based on the gap found in the actions adopted by Brazil, the motivation of the present study is the search for the characteristics of the Brazilian scenario and its non-adherence to the international proposals, mainly because they require technical infrastructure, legal order and availability Incompatible investments. In view of this need, a process control model was searched in other areas that adhered to the Brazilian reality presented, which is why a solution found was used to control the retail trade, through the SAT (Authentication and Transmission System), which is responsible for the generation of Electronic Tax Coupons. Thus, the work consists of using the concepts outlined for the fiscal model and adapting to the needs of the medical prescription, proposing a new model of automation and control of the prescription and dispensing process based on Electronic Medical Prescription (Receita Médica Eletrônica RM-e).

Atualmente, uns dos assuntos mais discutidos na medicina quando se trata de erros é a prescrição médica. Estes erros podem causar grandes danos à saúde dos pacientes, e um dos grandes causadores destes erros é a prescrição feita de forma manual, ou seja, de forma escrita manuscrita pelos médicos. Outro problema decorrente é o fato que nos modelos existentes não contemplam todas as informações necessárias para a correta prescrição. A prescrição médica é um documento que deve conter dados do paciente e de seu tratamento, como medicamentos, doses, periodicidade e, entre outras informações. Como na maioria das vezes quem realiza a infusão dos medicamentos nos pacientes não são os mesmos médicos que os prescreveram, a escrita manuscrita pode dificultar a leitura e o entendimento para quem for realizar o procedimento no paciente. Assim, os problemas proporcionados pela prescrição médica manuscrita como a falta de informações, escrita ilegível, rasuras e informações incompletas, podem ocasionar interpretações errôneas por parte dos profissionais de saúde que os leem, provocando sérios prejuízos diretos aos pacientes. Como atualmente é inevitável à introdução da tecnologia da informação (T.I.) na medicina, houve a iniciativa de criar um questionário eletrônico com perguntas sobre quais informações devem contemplar uma prescrição eletrônica, a fim de não haver falta e nem excesso de informações no modelo de prescrição eletrônica evitando possíveis problemas. Foi criado um questionário contendo 24 questões de múltiplas escolhas, com respostas do tipo SIM ou NÃO. Os questionários foram enviados aos associados da Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica. Foram 215 questionários respondidos, sendo que das 24 questões 17 tiveram 80% ou mais de respostas sim, onde significa que estas informações devem fazer parte do modelo de prescrição, que foi desenvolvido a partir destas informações. / Nowadays, one of the most discussed subjects in medicine when it comes to errors, is medical prescription. These errors can cause great harm to patients, and one of the great causes of these errors is the prescription made manually, that is, in handwritten by doctors. Another problem is the fact that in the existing models it is not include all the information necessary for the correct prescription. The medical prescription is a document that should contain data about the patient and their treatment, such as medications, doses, periodicity among other information. As most of the time those who infuse the drugs are not the same doctors who prescribed them, handwriting may make it difficult to read and understand for those who perform the procedure. Thus, the problems provided by medical prescription such as lack of information, illegible writing, erasures and incomplete information, can lead to misinterpretations by health professionals who read them, causing serious harm to patients. As it is currently unavoidable the introduction of informatics technology (IT) in medicine, there was the initiative to create an electronic questionnaire with questions about what information should contemplate an electronic prescription. In order to avoid lack or excess of information in the prescription model, avoiding possible problems, a questionnaire containing 24 multiple choice (YES or NO) questions was created. The questionnaires were sent to the members of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology. There were 215 questionnaires answered, and of the 24 questions, 17 had 80% or more answers, which means that this information should be part of the prescription model.

Atualmente, uns dos assuntos mais discutidos na medicina quando se trata de erros é a prescrição médica. Estes erros podem causar grandes danos à saúde dos pacientes, e um dos grandes causadores destes erros é a prescrição feita de forma manual, ou seja, de forma escrita manuscrita pelos médicos. Outro problema decorrente é o fato que nos modelos existentes não contemplam todas as informações necessárias para a correta prescrição. A prescrição médica é um documento que deve conter dados do paciente e de seu tratamento, como medicamentos, doses, periodicidade e, entre outras informações. Como na maioria das vezes quem realiza a infusão dos medicamentos nos pacientes não são os mesmos médicos que os prescreveram, a escrita manuscrita pode dificultar a leitura e o entendimento para quem for realizar o procedimento no paciente. Assim, os problemas proporcionados pela prescrição médica manuscrita como a falta de informações, escrita ilegível, rasuras e informações incompletas, podem ocasionar interpretações errôneas por parte dos profissionais de saúde que os leem, provocando sérios prejuízos diretos aos pacientes. Como atualmente é inevitável à introdução da tecnologia da informação (T.I.) na medicina, houve a iniciativa de criar um questionário eletrônico com perguntas sobre quais informações devem contemplar uma prescrição eletrônica, a fim de não haver falta e nem excesso de informações no modelo de prescrição eletrônica evitando possíveis problemas. Foi criado um questionário contendo 24 questões de múltiplas escolhas, com respostas do tipo SIM ou NÃO. Os questionários foram enviados aos associados da Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica. Foram 215 questionários respondidos, sendo que das 24 questões 17 tiveram 80% ou mais de respostas sim, onde significa que estas informações devem fazer parte do modelo de prescrição, que foi desenvolvido a partir destas informações. / Nowadays, one of the most discussed subjects in medicine when it comes to errors, is medical prescription. These errors can cause great harm to patients, and one of the great causes of these errors is the prescription made manually, that is, in handwritten by doctors. Another problem is the fact that in the existing models it is not include all the information necessary for the correct prescription. The medical prescription is a document that should contain data about the patient and their treatment, such as medications, doses, periodicity among other information. As most of the time those who infuse the drugs are not the same doctors who prescribed them, handwriting may make it difficult to read and understand for those who perform the procedure. Thus, the problems provided by medical prescription such as lack of information, illegible writing, erasures and incomplete information, can lead to misinterpretations by health professionals who read them, causing serious harm to patients. As it is currently unavoidable the introduction of informatics technology (IT) in medicine, there was the initiative to create an electronic questionnaire with questions about what information should contemplate an electronic prescription. In order to avoid lack or excess of information in the prescription model, avoiding possible problems, a questionnaire containing 24 multiple choice (YES or NO) questions was created. The questionnaires were sent to the members of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology. There were 215 questionnaires answered, and of the 24 questions, 17 had 80% or more answers, which means that this information should be part of the prescription model.

This thesis is concerned with electronic prescription of drugs in the Czech republic. The objective is to find a proper standard for electronic medical data exchange and use it for building a new data communication interface for the e-prescription system. This work attends to the evolution and actual situation of the national e-prescription system. The system is based on one central storage for e-prescriptions, however, currently it isn't being used. On basis of valid legislation, electronic prescription and drug dispense processes are analyzed. Furthermore, present central storage data interface is explored. Considering advantages, that are bound to utilization of electronic data exchange standards, main objective of this thesis is given, to design a new interface for transmission of e-prescriptions and drug dispense notifications. New interface shall adhere to standards. Czech standard DASTA and europian norm EN13606 were examined. After all, set of specifications HL7 (Health Level Seven) has been chosen, which suits the requirements best. Data interface design, with HL7 standards, is based on exchange of documents. Documents (prescription, dispense notification) are expressed in the Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) format, and exchanged between applications by means of the Medical Records domain messages. The structure of wrappers, forming a message, results from common HL7 Specification Infrastructure. Presented design has been inspired by Finnish solution eResepti. The design tries to transform present interface of central storage to format, which is defined by selected HL7 specifications. It can be used in both local and central e-prescription systems. It may also support the development of systems for electronic health(care) records exchange.

L’amélioration de la qualité de l’utilisation des médicaments dans les soins primaires est devenue un enjeu crucial. Les pharmaciens communautaires se présentent comme des acteurs centraux dans l’atteinte de cet objectif, en réclamant une extension de leur rôle. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de mieux comprendre comment les technologies de prescription informatisée (eRx) influencent la transformation du rôle des pharmaciens communautaires. Le premier article présente les résultats d’une étude de cas qui aborde la transformation du rôle des pharmaciens communautaires à partir du concept de professionnalisation. Elle propose un modèle logique des influences d’une technologie de eRx sur cette professionnalisation, élaboré à partir de la typologie de Davenport. Ce modèle logique a été validé en interviewant douze pharmaciens communautaires participant à un projet pilote typique de technologie de eRx. A partir des perceptions des pharmaciens communautaires, nous avons établi que la technologie était susceptible de soutenir la professionnalisation des pharmaciens en passant par cinq mécanismes : la capacité analytique, l’élimination des intermédiaires, l’intégration, l’automatisation et la diffusion des connaissances. Le deuxième article analyse les perturbations induites par les différentes fonctions des technologies de eRx sur la stabilité de la juridiction des pharmaciens communautaires, en se basant sur un cadre de référence adapté d’Abbott. À partir de trente-trois entrevues, avec des praticiens (médecins et pharmaciens) et des élites, cette étude de cas a permis de décrire en détail les influences des différentes fonctions sur les modalités d’action des professionnels, ainsi que les enjeux soulevés par ces possibilités. La perturbation principale est liée aux changements dans la distribution des informations, ce qui influence les activités de diagnostic et d’inférence des professionnels. La technologie peut redistribuer les informations relatives à la gestion des médicaments autant au bénéfice des médecins qu’au bénéfice des pharmaciens, ce qui suscite des tensions entre les médecins et les pharmaciens, mais aussi parmi les pharmaciens. Le troisième article présente une revue systématique visant à faire une synthèse des études ayant évalué les effets des technologies de eRx de deuxième génération sur la gestion des médicaments dans les soins primaires. Cette revue regroupe dix-neuf études menées avec des méthodes observationnelles. Les résultats rapportés révèlent que les technologies sont très hétérogènes, le plus souvent immatures, et que les effets ont été peu étudiés au-delà des perceptions des utilisateurs, qui sont mitigées. Le seul effet positif démontré est une amélioration de la qualité du profil pharmacologique accessible aux professionnels, alors que des effets négatifs ont été démontrés au niveau de l’exécution des prescriptions, tels que l’augmentation du nombre d’appels de clarification du pharmacien au prescripteur. Il semble donc que l’on en connaisse peu sur les effets des technologies de eRx de deuxième génération. Ces trois études permettent de constater que les nouvelles technologies de eRx peuvent effectivement influencer la transformation du rôle du pharmacien communautaire en perturbant les caractéristiques des prescriptions, et surtout, l’information et sa distribution. Ces perturbations génèrent des possibilités pour une extension du rôle des pharmaciens communautaires, tout en soulignant les défis intra et interprofessionnels associés à l’actualisation de ces possibilités. Dans l’ensemble, nos résultats soulignent que les perturbations associées aux technologies de eRx dépassent les éléments techniques du travail des utilisateurs, pour englober de multiples perturbations quant à la nature même du travail et du rôle des professionnels. Les décideurs et acteurs impliqués dans le déploiement des technologies de eRx auraient avantage à prendre en compte l’ensemble de ces considérations pour rapprocher les effets observés des bénéfices promis de ces technologies. / The quality of medication use in primary care needs to improve: this has become a crucial issue. Community pharmacists want to play a key role in meeting this objective and are calling for an expanded role. The main objective of this thesis is to better understand how electronic prescription (eRx) technologies are influencing the transformation of the role played by community pharmacists. The first article presents results from a case study on the transformation of the community pharmacists’ role, based on the concept of professionalization. It proposes a logical model of how an eRx technology influences this professionalization, developed from the Davenport typology. The logical model was validated by interviewing twelve community pharmacists participating in a typical pilot project involving an eRx technology. Based on the perceptions of community pharmacists, we have determined that there are five mechanisms by which the technology is likely to support the professionalization of pharmacists: analytic capacity, the elimination of intermediaries, integration, automation and the dissemination of knowledge. The second article analyzes the disturbances produced by the various functions of eRx technologies on the jurisdiction of community pharmacists, based on an adaptation of Abbott’s model. Using data from 33 interviews with practitioners, physicians and pharmacists, as well as elite members of these two professions, this case study provides a detailed description of how different functions influence professionals’ modalities of action, as well as the issues raised by these possibilities. The primary disturbance is associated with changes in the distribution of information, which can influence the diagnostic and inference activities of professionals. The technology may redistribute information on the management of medication to the benefit of both physicians and pharmacists, and this creates tensions, not only between physicians and pharmacists but also among pharmacists. The third article presents a systematic review that synthesized studies assessing the impacts of second-generation eRx technologies on the management of medication in primary care. It examined 19 studies that applied observational methods. The findings reveal that the technologies are very heterogeneous and often far from mature, and that their effects received little attention beyond the perceptions of users, which were mixed. The only positive impact shown is an improvement to the quality of the pharmacological profile available to professionals. Negative impacts touched on the execution of prescriptions, such as a greater number of calls from pharmacists to prescribers to clarify information. It would therefore appear that little is known about the impacts of second-generation eRx technologies. These three studies allow us to conclude that new eRx technologies may well influence how the role of the community pharmacist is being transformed, specifically by disturbing the characteristics of prescriptions and, above all, information and its distribution. These disturbances generate opportunities for extending the role of community pharmacists, while underscoring the intra and interprofessional challenges associated with their realization. Overall, our results suggest that the disturbances associated with eRx technologies go beyond technical aspects of users’ work, to include multiple disturbances of the very nature of the professionals’ work and role. The decision makers and actors involved in deploying eRx technologies would be well advised to take all these considerations into account to bring the observed effects of these technologies more in line with their promised benefits.

L’amélioration de la qualité de l’utilisation des médicaments dans les soins primaires est devenue un enjeu crucial. Les pharmaciens communautaires se présentent comme des acteurs centraux dans l’atteinte de cet objectif, en réclamant une extension de leur rôle. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de mieux comprendre comment les technologies de prescription informatisée (eRx) influencent la transformation du rôle des pharmaciens communautaires. Le premier article présente les résultats d’une étude de cas qui aborde la transformation du rôle des pharmaciens communautaires à partir du concept de professionnalisation. Elle propose un modèle logique des influences d’une technologie de eRx sur cette professionnalisation, élaboré à partir de la typologie de Davenport. Ce modèle logique a été validé en interviewant douze pharmaciens communautaires participant à un projet pilote typique de technologie de eRx. A partir des perceptions des pharmaciens communautaires, nous avons établi que la technologie était susceptible de soutenir la professionnalisation des pharmaciens en passant par cinq mécanismes : la capacité analytique, l’élimination des intermédiaires, l’intégration, l’automatisation et la diffusion des connaissances. Le deuxième article analyse les perturbations induites par les différentes fonctions des technologies de eRx sur la stabilité de la juridiction des pharmaciens communautaires, en se basant sur un cadre de référence adapté d’Abbott. À partir de trente-trois entrevues, avec des praticiens (médecins et pharmaciens) et des élites, cette étude de cas a permis de décrire en détail les influences des différentes fonctions sur les modalités d’action des professionnels, ainsi que les enjeux soulevés par ces possibilités. La perturbation principale est liée aux changements dans la distribution des informations, ce qui influence les activités de diagnostic et d’inférence des professionnels. La technologie peut redistribuer les informations relatives à la gestion des médicaments autant au bénéfice des médecins qu’au bénéfice des pharmaciens, ce qui suscite des tensions entre les médecins et les pharmaciens, mais aussi parmi les pharmaciens. Le troisième article présente une revue systématique visant à faire une synthèse des études ayant évalué les effets des technologies de eRx de deuxième génération sur la gestion des médicaments dans les soins primaires. Cette revue regroupe dix-neuf études menées avec des méthodes observationnelles. Les résultats rapportés révèlent que les technologies sont très hétérogènes, le plus souvent immatures, et que les effets ont été peu étudiés au-delà des perceptions des utilisateurs, qui sont mitigées. Le seul effet positif démontré est une amélioration de la qualité du profil pharmacologique accessible aux professionnels, alors que des effets négatifs ont été démontrés au niveau de l’exécution des prescriptions, tels que l’augmentation du nombre d’appels de clarification du pharmacien au prescripteur. Il semble donc que l’on en connaisse peu sur les effets des technologies de eRx de deuxième génération. Ces trois études permettent de constater que les nouvelles technologies de eRx peuvent effectivement influencer la transformation du rôle du pharmacien communautaire en perturbant les caractéristiques des prescriptions, et surtout, l’information et sa distribution. Ces perturbations génèrent des possibilités pour une extension du rôle des pharmaciens communautaires, tout en soulignant les défis intra et interprofessionnels associés à l’actualisation de ces possibilités. Dans l’ensemble, nos résultats soulignent que les perturbations associées aux technologies de eRx dépassent les éléments techniques du travail des utilisateurs, pour englober de multiples perturbations quant à la nature même du travail et du rôle des professionnels. Les décideurs et acteurs impliqués dans le déploiement des technologies de eRx auraient avantage à prendre en compte l’ensemble de ces considérations pour rapprocher les effets observés des bénéfices promis de ces technologies. / The quality of medication use in primary care needs to improve: this has become a crucial issue. Community pharmacists want to play a key role in meeting this objective and are calling for an expanded role. The main objective of this thesis is to better understand how electronic prescription (eRx) technologies are influencing the transformation of the role played by community pharmacists. The first article presents results from a case study on the transformation of the community pharmacists’ role, based on the concept of professionalization. It proposes a logical model of how an eRx technology influences this professionalization, developed from the Davenport typology. The logical model was validated by interviewing twelve community pharmacists participating in a typical pilot project involving an eRx technology. Based on the perceptions of community pharmacists, we have determined that there are five mechanisms by which the technology is likely to support the professionalization of pharmacists: analytic capacity, the elimination of intermediaries, integration, automation and the dissemination of knowledge. The second article analyzes the disturbances produced by the various functions of eRx technologies on the jurisdiction of community pharmacists, based on an adaptation of Abbott’s model. Using data from 33 interviews with practitioners, physicians and pharmacists, as well as elite members of these two professions, this case study provides a detailed description of how different functions influence professionals’ modalities of action, as well as the issues raised by these possibilities. The primary disturbance is associated with changes in the distribution of information, which can influence the diagnostic and inference activities of professionals. The technology may redistribute information on the management of medication to the benefit of both physicians and pharmacists, and this creates tensions, not only between physicians and pharmacists but also among pharmacists. The third article presents a systematic review that synthesized studies assessing the impacts of second-generation eRx technologies on the management of medication in primary care. It examined 19 studies that applied observational methods. The findings reveal that the technologies are very heterogeneous and often far from mature, and that their effects received little attention beyond the perceptions of users, which were mixed. The only positive impact shown is an improvement to the quality of the pharmacological profile available to professionals. Negative impacts touched on the execution of prescriptions, such as a greater number of calls from pharmacists to prescribers to clarify information. It would therefore appear that little is known about the impacts of second-generation eRx technologies. These three studies allow us to conclude that new eRx technologies may well influence how the role of the community pharmacist is being transformed, specifically by disturbing the characteristics of prescriptions and, above all, information and its distribution. These disturbances generate opportunities for extending the role of community pharmacists, while underscoring the intra and interprofessional challenges associated with their realization. Overall, our results suggest that the disturbances associated with eRx technologies go beyond technical aspects of users’ work, to include multiple disturbances of the very nature of the professionals’ work and role. The decision makers and actors involved in deploying eRx technologies would be well advised to take all these considerations into account to bring the observed effects of these technologies more in line with their promised benefits.