Evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes: a realist synthesis protocol

Introduction Pharmacist prescribing has evolved to meet healthcare system needs, but the effectiveness, mechanisms and contextual factors influencing education programmes remain poorly understood. Realist approaches are fairly novel in pharmacy practice research. This realist synthesis aims to answe...

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Main Authors: Charlotte E Rees, Sarah Dineen-Griffin, Shalom I Benrimoj, Kristin Xenos, Ian Murray Heslop
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-08-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e105951.full
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author Charlotte E Rees
Sarah Dineen-Griffin
Shalom I Benrimoj
Kristin Xenos
Ian Murray Heslop
author_facet Charlotte E Rees
Sarah Dineen-Griffin
Shalom I Benrimoj
Kristin Xenos
Ian Murray Heslop
author_sort Charlotte E Rees
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Pharmacist prescribing has evolved to meet healthcare system needs, but the effectiveness, mechanisms and contextual factors influencing education programmes remain poorly understood. Realist approaches are fairly novel in pharmacy practice research. This realist synthesis aims to answer the question: to what extent do pharmacy prescribing education programs work (or not), for whom and under what circumstances, and why?Methods and analysis A realist methodology (realist synthesis) will be used to review the outcomes of programmes. Pawson’s key stages will be followed: (1) clarifying the scope; (2) determining the search strategy; (3) study selection; (4) extracting and analysing data; and (5) synthesising findings and drawing conclusions. The synthesis will follow Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses–Evolving Standards publication guidelines. Data extracted will include the study characteristics, alongside the contexts, mechanisms and outcomes of varied pharmacy prescribing education programmes. The search strategy will include searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL Complete. An initial programme theory will use selected grey literature. Context-mechanism-outcome configurations will be identified, and recurring patterns will be synthesised to refine the initial programme theory.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required. Dissemination will be sought via peer-reviewed academic conferences and journals.PROSPERO registration number CRD420251056576.
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spelling doaj-art-7a5287c9bcf84aa3b27216c5a7c06b3f2025-08-20T03:55:14ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-08-0115810.1136/bmjopen-2025-105951Evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes: a realist synthesis protocolCharlotte E Rees0Sarah Dineen-Griffin1Shalom I Benrimoj2Kristin Xenos3Ian Murray Heslop41 The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia1 The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia3 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain1 The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia1 The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, AustraliaIntroduction Pharmacist prescribing has evolved to meet healthcare system needs, but the effectiveness, mechanisms and contextual factors influencing education programmes remain poorly understood. Realist approaches are fairly novel in pharmacy practice research. This realist synthesis aims to answer the question: to what extent do pharmacy prescribing education programs work (or not), for whom and under what circumstances, and why?Methods and analysis A realist methodology (realist synthesis) will be used to review the outcomes of programmes. Pawson’s key stages will be followed: (1) clarifying the scope; (2) determining the search strategy; (3) study selection; (4) extracting and analysing data; and (5) synthesising findings and drawing conclusions. The synthesis will follow Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses–Evolving Standards publication guidelines. Data extracted will include the study characteristics, alongside the contexts, mechanisms and outcomes of varied pharmacy prescribing education programmes. The search strategy will include searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL Complete. An initial programme theory will use selected grey literature. Context-mechanism-outcome configurations will be identified, and recurring patterns will be synthesised to refine the initial programme theory.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required. Dissemination will be sought via peer-reviewed academic conferences and journals.PROSPERO registration number CRD420251056576.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e105951.full
spellingShingle Charlotte E Rees
Sarah Dineen-Griffin
Shalom I Benrimoj
Kristin Xenos
Ian Murray Heslop
Evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes: a realist synthesis protocol
BMJ Open
title Evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes: a realist synthesis protocol
title_full Evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes: a realist synthesis protocol
title_fullStr Evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes: a realist synthesis protocol
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes: a realist synthesis protocol
title_short Evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes: a realist synthesis protocol
title_sort evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes a realist synthesis protocol
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e105951.full
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