Pilot study to evaluate knowledge of person-centred care, before and after a skill development programme, in a cohort of preregistration pharmacists within a large London hospital

Introduction: Aperson-centred approach to healthcare encompasses personalised care, supporting the individual to recognise their strengths and promote their independence. Preregistration pharmacists , who arenew pharmacy graduates undertaking their training year of practice before qualification,may need support embedding this in practice. Objective: To explore the knowledge and confidence in person-centred care (PCC) in a cohort of 12 preregistration pharmacists before and after receipt of an inhouse pharmacy-focused skill development programme using qualitative and quantitative measures. Methods: Two half-day skill development sessions were delivered to 12 preregistration pharmacists. Assessment forms were completed before and after the skill development sessions, including quantitative data gathered via Likert scales and qualitative, narrative responses. Responses were coded and classified into themes. Participants submitted one written reflective account demonstrating the use of PCC in medicines-related patient consultations following completion of the skill development programme. Results: Assessment forms were received from all participants. Self-reported knowledge of PCC improved from the start of the first session to the end of the second session. The average score for the understanding of PCC rose from 6.5 to 9.6 (Likert scale of 0–10) to the end of the second session. Qualitative analysis identified five person-centred themes, including active listening, using open questions, supporting and empowering patients, developing a shared agenda, and encouraging patients to take ownership of their medicines. Conclusions: Confidence and knowledge increased from the start of session 1 to the end of session 2. and analysis of the reflective accounts and themes also identified increased knowledge of PCC. This work aligns with previous hospital trust work, which identified that a training programme increased awareness and provided foundation knowledge. A short programme to develop PCC skills was effective in improving the PCC knowledge of 12 preregistration pharmacists. A review of pharmacists’ written accounts of their consultations suggests that these skills were integrated into practice