Defining evidence requirements for a Development Framework for Pharmacists (DFP) in community pharmacy practice

Background: The Development Framework for Pharmacists (DFP) was implemented in a pharmacy chain to guide pharmacist development. Both pharmacists and their supervisors faced challenges in defining evidence and performance levels for Domain 1 (Expert professional practice) standards. This study explored these challenges in a community pharmacy setting. Methods: Three online focus group discussions (FGDs) involving a DFP workgroup member and representatives from community pharmacies and polyclinics were conducted. The FGDs were facilitated by guiding questions and evidences gathered from pharmacists who had attempted the DFP. The FGDs were recorded, transcribed, and coded thematically. Results: Participants viewed the DFP as relevant to community practice but suggested aligning DFP evidence examples with community pharmacists' responsibilities. Key themes from the FGDs included: (1) The need for clear definitions for descriptors, especially when identical evidence was used for different standards; (2) Professional education can be Domain 1 evidence when skills learnt are demonstrated in the workplace; (3) Potential inclusion of education and training activities in Domain 1; (4) The need for a criteria model to assess pharmacists' performance level in various roles and situations; (5) Clarification regarding the term "group of patients"; (6) Considering back-end work as Domain 1 evidence. Conclusion: Addressing the above themes could enhance DFP integration for community pharmacists.