Witold Jucha, Anna Rapacz

The role of the pharmacist in clinical trials – the perspective of hospital pharmacists – survey results. Part 1.

 

2026-01-30

Subject and purpose of the study. The significant increase in the number of clinical trials in recent years worldwide, including in Poland, has created new opportunities for the professional development of pharmacists. Participation in clinical trials is a pharmacist's professional responsibility; therefore, hospital pharmacists should be actively involved in clinical trials of medicines. As a member of the interdisciplinary study site team, a pharmacist can contribute to improving both research quality and patient safety in clinical trials. The aim of this study is to present the opinions of hospital pharmacists regarding clinical trials of medicinal products in Poland, participation of pharmacists in clinical trials, taking into account the benefits of their presence in the research team and the obstacles that limit their greater involvement.

Methods. An anonymous online survey was conducted between September 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025. The survey was sent to 684 hospital pharmacies, with a request to complete the survey by the head of hospital pharmacy or a designated pharmacist employed in the hospital pharmacy. The survey comprised a combination of multiple choice, along with open comment sections for selected questions. The complete survey was returned by 170 pharmacists. This paper presents the first part of the results, which concern answers to general questions addressed to all pharmacists, regardless of their participation in clinical trials.

Results. Among the pharmacists who completed the survey, 73 (43%) were employed in hospitals conducting clinical trials, while 97 (57%) worked in hospitals that were not clinical trial centers. The majority of responses were received from pharmacists from district hospitals, specialist hospitals, hospitals with up to two hundred beds and employing 2-5 pharmacists. Respondents identified numerous benefits of pharmacists' participation in clinical trials and pointed out the barriers to their greater involvement.

Conclusions. The vast majority of respondents agreed that pharmacist participation in clinical trials is important and supported increased pharmacist involvement in clinical trials of medicines. Opinions were independent of the location/profile/size of the hospital, the number of pharmacists employed, or their current participation in the study site team. Pharmacists have the appropriate competencies and pointed out numerous benefits associated with their greater involvement.

Keywords: clinical trials, hospital pharmacy, hospital pharmacist.

© Farm Pol, 2025, 81(7): 405–417