Extend prescribing competence assessment research to professions other than medicine¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 4 claims (4 for) · 1 study (1 review), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 4 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The review recommends that research on tests of prescribing competence be extended to allied health professions such as pharmacists, nurses and physician associates, since most reviewed studies featured medical students and doctors. It argues this "would extend and benefit the knowledge pool on prescribing competence in general, with particular reference to future patient safety."

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Assessment instruments applicable across professional groups

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• Pharmacists
• Nurses
• Physician associates
• Dentists

Target Learning Goals¶

• Prescribing competence

Claims¶

• Written knowledge tests, OSCEs and situational judgement tests all show predictive validity for later clinical performance [+W]
• National demographic data show significant differential attainment on prescribing-related assessments by age, sex and ethnicity [+W]
• Most published studies of prescribing competence assessment use multiple-choice formats, with scenario-based skills tests, short answer questions and calculations also common [+W]
• Predictive validity, cost, and differential attainment by demographics are not indicated in the prescribing assessment literature [+W]

Related Strategies¶

• Adopt structured reporting standards for prescribing assessment research including reliability, validity, cut scores and costs
• Add situational judgement tests to prescribing competence assessment practices
• Change undergraduate clinical pharmacology and therapeutics education to improve the prescribing competencies of future doctors

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• McLachlan JC, Auta A, Ajiboye A. (2025). Assessment and evaluation of prescribing competences: A systematic review and recommendations. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.16033