Development of the comprehensive medication management practice management assessment tool: A resource to assess and prioritize areas for practice improvement

Abstract

Background

Significant attention has been given to developing a consistent patient care process for providing comprehensive medication management (CMM). However, little research exists that examines the structures required to effectively manage a CMM practice to achieve quality, consistency and sustainability.

Objective

The objective of this research was to create a CMM practice management assessment tool to identify and prioritize areas of CMM practice improvement.

Methods

Thirty-four pharmacists providing CMM from 35 primary care clinics across five states were divided into three cohorts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with pharmacists from Cohort 1. Participants were asked to describe the essential components of CMM practice management and to detail the characteristics of these components in their practice. Themes were identified by two investigators and a descriptive practice assessment tool was developed from emergent themes. Using cognitive interviewing, participants in Cohorts 2 and 3 completed sections of the tool while verbalizing their thought process and providing feedback. This process led to simultaneous development and refinement of the tool, as well as developing evidence of content validity. Throughout tool development, a series of four focus groups with managers overseeing pharmacists providing CMM occurred to obtain their perspectives and feedback on the tool.

Results

A tool with five domains was developed. Each domain consists of two to three essential components of CMM practice management for a total of 13 components. Each component contains several questions which collectively form a 78-item descriptive practice management assessment tool.

Conclusion

A descriptive practice management assessment tool was developed that can be used to aid in CMM practice advancement. This tool can provide direction for quality improvement work as pharmacists and managers seek to make their practices more efficient and sustainable.