AUTHOR=Wang Chenyu , Li Maozhen , Huang Yuankai , Xi Xiaoyu 

TITLE=Factors influencing clinical pharmacists’ integration into the clinical multidisciplinary care team

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1202433

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2023.1202433

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=Objectives: To investigate the factors influencing clinical pharmacists' integration into clinical multidisciplinary team, using the interprofessional collaboration between clinical pharmacists and physicians as the focus.
Methods: Through stratified random sampling, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among clinical pharmacists and physicians in secondary and tertiary hospitals in China from July to August 2022. The questionnaire, comprising the Pharmacist/Physician Collaboration Index (PPCI) scale to reflect collaboration level and a combined scale to measure influencing factors, was available in two versions for clinical pharmacist and physician. Multiple linear regression was adopted to analyze the association between collaboration level and influencing factors, as well as the heterogeneity of significant factors to hospitals of different grades.
Results: Valid self-reported data from 474 clinical pharmacists and 496 paired physicians were included, serving 281 hospitals from 31 provinces. In terms of participant-related factors, standardized training and academic degree respectively exerted significant positive effects on the perceived collaboration level by clinical pharmacists and physicians. In terms of context characteristics, manager support and system construction were the main factors for improving collaboration. In terms of exchange characteristics, clinical pharmacists having good communication skills, physicians trusting the others' professional competence and values, and both parties having consistent expectations had significant positive effects on collaboration. 
Conclusions: The study provides a baseline dataset on the current level and associated factors of clinical pharmacists’ collaboration with other professionals for China and countries with related health system, providing reference for individuals, universities, hospitals and national policy makers to facilitate the development of clinical pharmacy and multidisciplinary models and further improve the patient-centered integrated disease treatment system.