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Opinion Leader research

As long ago as March last year, I asked the Society to set up an interactive website to promote engagement in the professional leadership debate. At last, the Journal has provided that forum.

On several occasions, I have also asked the Society to publish the original Opinion Leader research, but they have still not done so. Are we to assume that the results make uncomfortable reading, and would lead opinion in the wrong way?

However unpalateable or controversial, we need total transparency in this debate, and I once again urge them to publish.

Would anybody who took part in this exercise care to comment?

Opinion Leader Research

I have heard a little of the results and think that Lambeth does not like the result so is smothering publication. I join with Alan in demanding full publication, after all it was our fees which paid for the research. Is our new President brave enough to lead on this or will the Society try to stitch up the result and offer us one choice for a new professional body ?

RPSGB's Response

As Alan rightly points out, the Society has commissioned two pieces of research that have involved the invaluable contribution of members of the profession. The first piece of research was carried out in October 2007 and was designed to be exploratory in nature via interviews and focus groups among randomly selected participants. This work involved general discussions on the needs, wants and expectations of those sampled in relation to a professional body for pharmacy and their current perceptions of the Society. This was carried out to inform a much larger quantitative piece of work that has just been completed, and will be presented to the Society’s Council later this month. I completely agree that there should be transparency in the debate on the professional body and would reassure members that the key messages arising from the research will be published. I think you are right to point out that no matter how ‘unpalatable or controversial’ the findings are, they must inform the development of a professional body that meets the needs of the profession to ensure it is fit for purpose

October 2007 and still not published

If the Society is not hiding the results of this survey (conducted in Oct 2007) why has it not published the research ?

Society Still Hiding From Our Opinions

10 months after Alan Rogers demand to publish this research still nothing has appeared from Lambeth. What is Steve Churton hiding from ? Mark Walker - Oxford

Nothing to Hide!

The OLR market research was used to support the deliberations of TransCom in designing the prospectus for the new professional leadership body, and a summary was published for members in Your Society in October 2008 at:- http://www.rpsgb.org/pdfs/YourSociety0810.pdf

As an organisation keen to understand members requirements of their new professional body, the Society has an extensive and ongoing market research programme in place to test general attitudes and opinions, and reaction to specific elements of the offer being developed. Members are currently being invited to get more involved in this process – and further details are available at:- www.pharmacyplb.com

Feedback will continue to be used to develop services and products which will be valued for their relevance and quality. This is important to establish a strong professional body which delivers to its full potential.

Steve Churton

Still Hiding From Pharmacist's Opinions

OLR market research found that that Pharmacists want a PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR PHARMACISTS, is my information.   That does not fit into the Lambeth and DH model for a new professional body for pharmacy, so it was ignored.   If there is nothing to hide then publish the detailed OLR data.   Members are trained scientists we do not require TransCom or Lambeth to summarise the results for us.   I note that Mr Churton says members may only feedback on which services and products the NPB for pharmacy may offer.   We will be ignored if we say we do not want a NPB for pharmacy, Lambeth has taken that choice away from us........ Mark Walker - Oxford