Dr Karen Luetsch - A realist synthesis of pharmacist-conducted medication reviews in primary care after leaving hospital: what works for whom and why?

Speaker

Dr Karen Luetsch (UQ – School of Pharmacy)

Abstract

Pharmacy services and programs can be regarded as complex interventions which are developed and implemented within the open, complex system of overall healthcare. Realist research considers matters of complexity and provides insights into what programs and interventions work, why and in which contexts.

Karen’s presentation will outline the basics of realist approaches to research and their application during a realist synthesis of medication reviews for people who have left hospitals by pharmacists in primary care settings. Come and find out what works for whom and why.

Speaker Bio

Karen’s career as a pharmacist started as a clinician and health service manager. She has worked as an educator, educational designer and team manager on behalf of NPSMedicineWise, Queensland Health and multiple NGOs in all healthcare settings to improve medication and patient safety. Facilitating interprofessional learning and behaviour change are some of her particular skills in reaching out to medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses.

Karen has now been teaching and researching within the Masters of Clinical Pharmacy program at UQ for 11 years, with a focus on advanced clinical skills, leadership and management and, research.  After attending a master’s course at Oxford University in ‘Realist Evaluation and Review’ Karen’s interest moved to applying realist logic to pharmacy practice and other health service research. Her understanding of realist approaches to research have made her a sought after investigator for grant applications.

Karen’s presentation will provide a short introduction to realist research and illustrate some of its approaches through discussion of a realist synthesis of medication reviews by pharmacists in primary care for people who have left hospital, which has recently been accepted for publication by BMJ Quality & Safety.