Experiences from the Initial Three Years of Introducing the BPS/MSC
Prescribing Safety Assessment for Danish Junior Doctors
Abstract
Aim: The British Pharmacological Society and UK Medical Schools Council
Prescription Safety Assessment (BPS/MSC PSA) is an electronic platform
developed for assessing the prescription skills of medical students. Our
aim was to investigate the feasibility of the PSA in addressing
prescribing competencies among junior doctors in a hospital setting.
Methods: The Department of Clinical Pharmacology at Odense University
Hospital (OUH) established a Danish translated program using the BPS/MSC
PSA platform. We launched a formal three year program in 2021,
potentially assessing all first-year doctors at OUH and Esbjerg Regional
Hospital. Participation was mandatory, followed by a survey (not
mandatory). Results: During the period of 2021 to 2023 n= 364 doctors
were invited, from which n=246 participated. The compliance rate
increased from 38% in 2021 to 88% in 2023. The mean assessment score
(points normalized to percentage) across n=246 participants was 71%,
and 94% achieved a score of at least 50%. The survey was distributed
to n=402 with 90 responses (22%) from which n=71 completed the
questionnaire. Of these, 64% stated that the purpose with the
assessment was clear. The two questions about difficulty level and the
number of questions had similar evaluations. The majority of respondents
found that the questions were of clinical relevance. Conclusion: It is
feasible to translate and implement the PSA in a Danish hospital
setting. The program provides insight into the prescribing competencies
of junior doctors and the participants are generally positive.