Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40829825›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes: a realist synthesis protocol.

Kristin Xenos, Charlotte E Rees, Ian Murray Heslop, Shalom I Benrimoj, Sarah Dineen-Griffin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Kristin XenosThe University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia kristin.xenos@uon.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-9682-2705
Charlotte E ReesThe University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Ian Murray HeslopThe University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Shalom I BenrimojFaculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Sarah Dineen-GriffinThe University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPharmacist 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.

Indexed as

Drug PrescriptionsEducation, PharmacyPharmacistsHumansProgram EvaluationResearch DesignEDUCATION & TRAINING (see Medical Education & Training)PharmacistsPrescriptions

Identifiers

PMID40829825
PMCPMC12366615

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.