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Prescribing Survey
Research
Prescription priviledges for psychologists: Where does New Zealand stand?
John Fitzgerald & Karma Galyer
The issue of prescribing rights for psychologists has been a subject of debate for many years in the international community. An article published recently in both the Bulletin of the NZ Psychological Society and the regular newsletter of the NZ College of Clinical Psychologists (ShrinkRAP) outlined some considerations pertinent to this debate. The topic has become more salient of late as psychologist prescribing has been approved in some US states, with many other applications underway. At the same time the Ministry of Health has sought consultation for the development of a third class of prescribing practitioner in New Zealand, the ‘collaborative prescriber’. They are exploring the idea that a “non-prescribing heath practitioner, after authorization from their registration authority, may prescribe under the supervision of an authorized prescriber.” With the support of the National Executives of both the NZCCP and NZPsS, The Psychology Centre conducted a national survey of all College/Society members in order to gauge opinions on this subject. We also made attempts to contact psychologists working within Universities and District Health Board who were not members of either organisation.
Participation was voluntary and anonymous. The survey included some questions regarding the structure of your work, some background information, and some questions about your views on the prescribing rights issue. We also collected background demographic data to check we had a representative sample of psychologist, and to look at the impact of respondents’ work roles on their views of these issues.
Data from the survey has now been collated and will be presented via the Society's/College’s publications and conferences.
A copy of the survey form that we used (.pdf format) can be found by clicking here.
Dissemination of Results
- Galyer, K. T. & Fitzgerald, J. M. (2008). Colaborative Prescribing: Where Do New Zealand Psychologists Stand? Paper presented as part of a symposium entitled Prescribing Privileges for Psychologists: Do we want it? Do we need it? (chair: John Fitzgerald) at the annual conference of the NZ Psychological Society, Christchurch (29-31 August)
- Fitzgerald, J. M. & Galyer, K. T. (2008). Colaborative Prescribing: Where Do New Zealand Psychologists Stand? Paper presented as part of the Prescibing Rights forum (chair: Dr Iain Montgomery) at the annual conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Hobart, Tasmania (23-26 September)
- Fitzgerald, J. & Galyer, K. (in press). Collaborative Prescribing Rights for Psychologists: The New Zealand Perspective. New Zealand Journal of Psychology.
Links:
NZ Psychological Society
NZ College of Clinical Psychologists