Rose Olaf, Egel Clarissa, Pachmayr Johanna, Clemens Stephanie
Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology and Clinical Pharmacy, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
Center of Public Health and Health Services Research, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
Pharmacy (Basel). 2025 Sep 8;13(5):130. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy13050130.
In Austria, community pharmacists may dispense prescription-only drugs in exceptional emergency cases. Hospital pharmacists are permitted to adapt or discontinue therapy with prior physician approval. This mixed-methods study explores how Austrian pharmacists interpret and apply these frameworks, their readiness for expanded roles, and the systemic conditions required to support broader clinical engagement. A cross-sectional design was used with two online surveys targeting community and hospital pharmacists. Additionally, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted (ten community, five hospital pharmacists). Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively; qualitative data were examined using Mayring's content analysis. Data integration followed a triangulation design via mixed-methods matrices. A total of 238 community and 53 hospital pharmacists responded. Findings show that community pharmacists frequently apply clinical judgment in urgent situations and navigate regulatory grey zones. Over 88% support expanded roles, particularly in continuing contraceptives, managing chronic diseases, and treating infections using point-of-care testing. Hospital pharmacists report limited implementation of their framework, hindered by institutional inertia, staffing shortages, and poor access to patient data. Confidence in clinical pharmacotherapy decisions was limited. Targeted training and policy support are essential.
在奥地利，社区药剂师在特殊紧急情况下可以配发处方药。医院药剂师在获得医生事先批准的情况下，被允许调整或停止治疗。这项混合方法研究探讨了奥地利药剂师如何解释和应用这些框架、他们对扩大职责的准备情况，以及支持更广泛临床参与所需的系统条件。采用横断面设计，针对社区和医院药剂师进行了两项在线调查。此外，还进行了15次半结构化访谈（10名社区药剂师、5名医院药剂师）。对定量数据进行描述性分析；使用迈林的内容分析法对定性数据进行审查。数据整合通过混合方法矩阵采用三角测量设计。共有238名社区药剂师和53名医院药剂师做出了回应。研究结果表明，社区药剂师在紧急情况下经常运用临床判断力，并在监管灰色地带中周旋。超过88%的人支持扩大职责，特别是在续配避孕药、管理慢性病以及使用即时检验治疗感染方面。医院药剂师报告称，他们的框架实施有限，受到机构惰性、人员短缺和获取患者数据困难的阻碍。对临床药物治疗决策的信心有限。有针对性的培训和政策支持至关重要。
