Establishing a biologics and biosimilars committee/network: assessing educational requirements of pharmacy and other healthcare professionals

Introduction

Successful professional networking involves shared, mutually beneficial interactions between individuals and/or individuals and groups1. Biologics and biosimilar medicines prescribing is rapidly evolving with an increasing number of clinical indications in healthcare2,3. Despite their importance, the absence of a structured national network dedicated to these complex therapies has left a gap in professional education and resource sharing among pharmacists. Recognising the necessity for a cohesive support system, this work explores the learning and professional needs of pharmacists regarding biologics and biosimilars and the potential development of a national pharmacy network to address these gaps.

Aim

The survey aimed to explore the educational needs and preference for a network and/or committee for pharmacy and other healthcare professionals focused on biologics and biosimilars medicines.

Methods

An electronic survey was developed and deployed for pharmacy and other healthcare professionals involved in the management of biologics and biosimilars via email cascade and social media, 12th February - 6th March 2023. The survey explored the preferred structure of the proposed group; formal committee and/or informal network, what the group would deliver, and any educational needs for members. The survey included questions about the respondent’s roles, sectors of work, regions and their clinical area(s). The open text responses were themed. The NHS health Research Authority tool was used to identify this project as service improvement and development, therefore did not require ethical approval.

Results

The responses received were from 46 pharmacists, 1 pharmacy technician, 15 doctors and nurses and 4 participants whose roles were unknown, working across multiple sectors; hospital, community, industry, and academia with representation from the devolved nations (n=3) and internationally (n=1). Most respondents expressed a need for a dedicated network and committee n=52 (79%), n=10 (15%) formal network, and n=4 (6%) informal committee. Common themes in response to what the group should deliver and educational needs included; harmonisation of approaches to guidelines and policies, pathway design, reduction in unwarranted variation (68%); platform to share new ideas, knowledge and peer advice (44%); strategy and leadership in service delivery and promotion of best practice and cost training, horizon scanning (29%); working collaboratively to produce multi-centre research projects (24%); to create a structured training programme for health care professionals (9%).

Discussion/Conclusion

The survey results highlight a gap in the current educational and professional support systems for PP’s concerning biologics and biosimilar medicines. The identified learning needs point to a strong demand for a structured network that can provide targeted education, share best practices and facilitate professional networking. The expertise within the group can also create formal eLearning programmes for healthcare professionals. This work serves as a foundational step towards the development this network, highlighting the critical areas of focus and the collective interest of the pharmacy community in bridging these gaps. The network should also facilitate communication and collaboration across different sectors, fostering a more cohesive and informed pharmacy community. Such an innovative network would not only enhance individual competency but also contribute to the overall advancement of pharmaceutical care in this specialised area.

References

1. Goolsby MJ, Knestrick JM. Effective professional networking. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2017 Aug;29(8):441-445. doi: 10.1002/2327-6924.12484. Epub 2017 Jun 13. PMID: 28608520.

2. Rosembert DC, Twigg MJ, Wright DJ. Patient's and Consultant's Views and Perceptions on Switching from an Originator Biologic to Biosimilar Medication: A Qualitative Study. Pharmacy (Basel). 2024 Apr 7;12(2):65. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy12020065. PMID: 38668091; PMCID: PMC11054985. Patient's and Consultant's Views and Perceptions on Switching from an Originator Biologic to Biosimilar Medication: A Qualitative Study - PubMed (nih.gov)

3. NHS England National Medicines Optimisation Opportunities 2023/24 Updated 19th October 2023 (accessed 28.5.2024) Available online: NHS England » National medicines optimisation opportunities 2023/24