Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1965. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: l. 186-191.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 99-106.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-84).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

This aim of the research was to explore pharmacist prescribing (PP) with a focus on antimicrobials, in hospitals in Scotland. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect, generate and synthesise data. A systematic review of peer-reviewed published literature on evidence-based roles for the pharmacist as part of an antimicrobial multidisciplinary team, identified roles for pharmacists within the teams but limited evidence relating to outcomes associated with these roles. Six qualitative focus groups, with 37 hospital pharmacists in 5 Scottish Health Boards, contextualised perceptions of barriers to, and facilitators of, implementation of PP in hospitals. Key themes were: perceived lack of pharmacy management support to take on a prescribing role and little strategic attention paid to PP implementation and sustainability. These issues were discussed in relation to PP in general and not only for antimicrobials. Participants perceived successful implementation of PP to be associated with factors including ward type and patient’s clinical condition. None of the pharmacists were prescribing antimicrobials and consequently further studies focused on PP in general. A scoping exercise, utilising various sources of information, reinforced findings from Phase 1; it highlighted the absence of any national or Health Board frameworks to support implementation of PP in secondary care in Scotland. Consensus-based research was undertaken, therefore, to provide guidance to facilitate service redesign involving PP in secondary care in Scotland. A Delphi approach undertaken with 40 experts, mainly in strategic posts, resulted in a high level of agreement in areas relating to succession planning, rather than role development; more variability was obtained in areas relating to future orientation of service, competencies required by prescribers and potential development of non-medical prescribing teams. The guidance was developed into a self-assessment toolkit providing an analytical strategy for implementation and role development of PP in secondary care. While the results and conclusions generated through this research need to be interpreted with caution, the data generated is an original contribution to the evidence base relating to PP.

Thesis (Ph.D. )--University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 2008 / Title from title page screen (viewed on June 19, 2008). Research advisor: Peter Chyka, Pharm. D. Document formatted into pages (xiii, 193 p. : ill.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 142-148).

This research utilised mixed methodology to gain insight into community pharmacists’ adoption of medicines and services related to two key innovative policy interventions aimed at enhanced minor ailment management; namely the ongoing legal status reclassification of medicines; and the introduction of the Scottish Minor Ailment Service. Prompted by the lack of qualitative and large scale quantitative evaluation from the pharmacists’ perspective, the aim was to investigate pharmacists’ adoption of these innovations. Data were generated to evaluate the process related aspects of innovation adoption from community pharmacists’ perspectives; and to identify and quantify key factors associated with the adoption of these innovations, thereby considering the wider relevance to new community pharmacy services. A range of methods was used including: formal systematic review of peer reviewed published literature on factors associated with innovation adoption following methods recommended by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York; extensive review of policy documents of all the devolved UK Governments; qualitative focus groups and interviews with 20 community pharmacists from four Scottish Health Boards; and lastly a cross sectional survey of the pharmacists responsible for nonprescription medicines from all Scottish community pharmacies (N=1138). The theoretical framework of diffusion of innovations was adopted to design the quantitative research instrument and interpret the data. Rigour was enhanced by consideration of aspects of validity and reliability at all stages. The highest standards of research governance and ethics were applied throughout the study. Qualitative interviews provided insight into the process related aspects of innovation adoption. Where current changes were embraced reluctantly by many who deemed the pace as fast and furious, others were keen to contribute to developments taking place within pharmacy and were eager to play a more proactive role in leading and introducing change to the public. Regardless of practice setting and ownership model, the merits of each innovation appeared to be considered at the individual practitioner level. Hence an organisational level decision to implement an innovation did not necessarily translate to adoption at the individual practitioner level. Using descriptive, bivariate and multivariate quantitative models informed by the results of the qualitative interviews and systematic review of the literature, the quantitative study showed pharmacists’ perceived attributes of innovations (such as benefits to their professional role development and patients); and patient demand and use of services had the highest association with whether or how far innovations were adopted. Issues such as differences in availability of resources were less able to explain differing level of innovation adoption by the pharmacist respondents. These findings suggest that as innovations around minor ailment management have not yet required reorientation of existing services, the issue of how pharmacists’ perceive the characteristics of the innovations such as: potential for financial benefits to pharmacy, professional role development and patients; is key to predicting whether future innovations of a similar nature will be successfully adopted by pharmacists.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--East Carolina University, 2009. / Presented to the faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership. Advisor: Lynn Bradshaw. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed May 20, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.