Safe prescribing in the digital age - evaluation of a pharmacist-led prescribing program for intern medical officers

Improving intern medical officers' (IMOs') prescribing skills and self-confidence, in the age of digital prescribing, presents a modern healthcare challenge. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a pharmacist-led prescribing program to IMOs during orientation. The interactive program aimed to identify useful clinical prescribing support tools through case-based learning using the hospitals' digital prescribing program. The program was delivered to 90 IMOs with 56 matched pre- and post-program questionnaires completed. There was an increase in IMOs' self-confidence and ability to apply prescribing knowledge to clinical cases post-program, and 100% of IMOs agreed that the program should be included in future medical intern orientation programs. Five post-program interviews highlighted that key learnings were used in clinical practice and knowledge was sustained post-program. This pharmacist-led prescribing program for IMOs that introduced clinical decision tools to support safe prescribing using a digital system, resulted in overall improved self-confidence and prescribing skills.