Current Situation and Future Directions of Dispensing Support Tasks Conducted by Nonpharmacist Dispensing Assistants/Support Staff

This study aimed to clarify the current status of dispensing assistance and support tasks performed by nonpharmacists and to provide recommendations on quality assurance for these activities. The survey targeted Japanese pharmacists and nonpharmacist dispensing assistants/support staff, thereby collecting information on their demographics, workplaces, the content of dispensing assistance tasks at their facilities, and dispensing-related training. Pharmacists responded to 25 items, whereas nonpharmacist dispensing assistants/support staff responded to 21 items. Nonpharmacist dispensing assistants/support staff participated in dispensing-related tasks at 70% of the surveyed facilities, and only approximately 20-30% of them held registered sellers of OTC drug qualifications. With respect to training frequency, the most common response from pharmacists was "at employment and after near-miss incidents" (237 respondents, 41.4%), followed by "at employment only" (96 respondents, 16.8%). For nonpharmacist dispensing assistants/support staff, "at employment and after near-miss incidents" was also most common (110 respondents, 35.9%), followed by "at employment only" (77 respondents, 25.2%). Among the respondents, 423 pharmacists (73.8%) and 222 nonpharmacist dispensing assistants/support staff (72.5%) indicated that no regular training program existed. These findings suggest the need to review educational systems in various countries and to develop a structured training framework for nonpharmacist dispensing assistants/support staff in Japan that is tailored to local needs. Such efforts could support discussions on appropriate task delegation and ensure quality in dispensing support services.