Initiating practice change: Assessing your pharmaceutical care skills

Regular self-assessment is essential to identify learning needs and evolving as a practitioner. Skill assessment, however, is problematic. When un-aided, pharmacists may reflect on their most prominent strengths and weaknesses and neglect other skills that are also important. Also, given the complexity of the patient care process, it is often difficult to remember all the skills that should be assessed. In response, a tool has been designed to assist pharmacists in assessing their own skills. The checklist can be used sections-by-section to help identify areas for improvement. It can also be used over time to recognize developing areas of strength.