Collaborative pharmacy research leading to patient care improvements

Unlocking Better Healthcare: Why Pharmacy Research is the Key

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"From bedside to breakthrough, discover how investing in pharmacy research can revolutionize patient care and transform healthcare as we know it."

In today's healthcare landscape, pharmacists are armed with more tools than ever to optimize patient care. From renewing prescriptions to authorizing lab tests and treating minor ailments, their role is expanding. Yet, despite these advancements, the full potential of pharmacy practice remains largely untapped.

While pharmacists are dedicated to patient well-being, achieving optimal outcomes requires continuous development of evidence-based services. This is where research capability becomes paramount. To truly thrive and provide the best care, the pharmacy profession needs to embrace and foster robust practice-based research.

Although groundbreaking practices have emerged from research, their widespread acceptance is still limited. A focused research agenda for pharmacy practice is essential. The call is for the profession to actively adopt proven practices and commit significant resources to developing innovative solutions through research.

Why is Pharmacy Practice Research So Important?

Collaborative pharmacy research leading to patient care improvements

To achieve meaningful progress, collaboration is key. Academia, employers, and practitioners must unite in driving pharmacy practice research. A critical mass of researchers is needed to demonstrate the profound impact that practice advancement can have on patients' lives. Pharmacy faculties can play a pivotal role by increasing the number of faculty positions dedicated to pharmacy practice development and assessment.

Generating evidence for pharmacist-provided services demands robust clinical and research training, motivated leadership, and dedicated resources. Academia has a vested interest in fostering research networks that connect pharmacists to real-world practice settings. This integration expands pharmacists' roles and positively influences patient outcomes.

Enhanced Patient Outcomes: Research directly contributes to better patient care and improved health results.
Professional Growth: Research involvement allows pharmacists to expand their capabilities and stay at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
Practice Transformation: Evidence-based practices lead to more effective and efficient healthcare delivery.

Public and private healthcare organizations also have a crucial role in adopting new evidence-based practices and generating new evidence. Organizations should provide strong administrative support and leadership to promote practice-based research, embedding it as a core component of the pharmacist's role. When research is valued, it transforms from an add-on to an essential function.

The Future of Pharmacy: A Call to Action

Ultimately, the success of pharmacy practice research hinges on engaging students and colleagues in scholarly activities. By recognizing the benefits of research for themselves, their practice, and their patients, a culture of continuous improvement can take root. With recognition that existing pharmacy services are end products of research, one strong argument for embracing this culture is simple: today's research has the potential to become tomorrow's clinical service. Leadership is key in championing this transformation.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4212/cjhp.v70i3.1654, Alternate LINK

Title: Today’S Research Is Tomorrow’S Practice: Promoting A Culture Of Research

Subject: Pharmacology (medical)

Journal: The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy

Publisher: Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP)

Authors: Marc M Perreault

Published: 2017-06-30

Everything You Need To Know

How does pharmacy practice research directly benefit patient care?

Pharmacy practice research directly enhances patient outcomes by generating evidence-based practices. This research ensures that pharmacists provide the most effective and efficient healthcare, leading to improved health results. Furthermore, it supports the professional growth of pharmacists, enabling them to stay updated with healthcare innovations and expand their capabilities. This research translates into practice transformation, promoting a healthcare delivery system that is both effective and efficient, ultimately benefiting the patient through optimized care and outcomes.

What role do academic institutions play in advancing pharmacy practice research?

Academia plays a crucial role in advancing pharmacy practice research by increasing faculty positions dedicated to pharmacy practice development and assessment. These institutions foster research networks that connect pharmacists to real-world practice settings, facilitating the integration of expanded pharmacist roles. This integration positively influences patient outcomes, creates evidence for pharmacist-provided services, demands robust clinical and research training, and ensures motivated leadership and dedicated resources are available to support these research endeavors.

Why is collaboration between academia, employers, and practitioners essential for progress in pharmacy practice?

Collaboration between academia, employers, and practitioners is essential to drive pharmacy practice research. A unified approach enables a critical mass of researchers to demonstrate the profound impact that practice advancement can have on patients' lives. Academia can foster research networks, employers can provide strong administrative support and leadership, and practitioners can engage in scholarly activities. This collaborative ecosystem ensures that research is valued and becomes an essential function, transforming pharmacy practice and improving patient outcomes.

How can healthcare organizations support and integrate pharmacy practice research into daily functions?

Healthcare organizations, both public and private, play a crucial role in supporting and integrating pharmacy practice research by adopting new evidence-based practices and generating new evidence. They can provide strong administrative support and leadership to promote practice-based research, embedding it as a core component of the pharmacist's role. This integration ensures that research is valued and transforms from an add-on to an essential function, ultimately enhancing patient care and improving health outcomes.

What is the long-term vision for the future of pharmacy practice research, and how can current pharmacists contribute?

The long-term vision for pharmacy practice research involves fostering a culture of continuous improvement by engaging students and colleagues in scholarly activities. Recognizing that existing pharmacy services are end products of research, current pharmacists can contribute by embracing this culture, understanding the benefits of research for themselves, their practice, and their patients. Today's research has the potential to become tomorrow's clinical service, underscoring the importance of leadership in championing this transformation and driving the future of pharmacy practice.