Roles and impact of pharmacy technicians on hospital wards: a systematic review

Background Medication management on hospital wards is increasingly supported by pharmacy technicians, yet their specific tasks and effects have not been comprehensively synthesised in the literature. Objective To synthesise international evidence on the tasks performed by pharmacy technicians on hospital wards and to evaluate the effects on patient-, pharmaceutical-, nursing-, and ward-related outcomes. Information sources Five databases (EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect) were systematically searched to November 2024, supplemented with hand searches. Methods This systematic review included studies that reported quantitative outcomes of pharmacy technicians performing medication-related tasks on general wards. Screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal (CASP) were performed independently, and findings were synthesised narratively due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity. Results Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Pharmacy technicians most frequently performed medication history review and reconciliation (11 studies), followed by support in preparation and administration (5 studies), supply and dispensing management (4 studies), and discharge education (3 studies). Across these domains, their involvement was consistently associated with improved patient safety and workflow outcomes. Thirteen studies reported reductions in medication errors, with technicians identifying and correcting omissions, dosing errors, and prescribing discrepancies. Eight studies demonstrated gains in pharmacy staff efficiency through more accurate medication histories and optimised pharmacist time, while six studies highlighted improvements in nursing efficiency, including shorter medication rounds and fewer interruptions. Staff satisfaction increased in five studies, and cost-effectiveness analyses (3 studies) indicated neutral or positive financial impact through reduced missed doses and lower wastage. Patient satisfaction, reported in one study, improved through discharge education, with patients expressing greater understanding of their medications. Conclusion(s) This systematic review identified a broad range of tasks performed by pharmacy technicians on hospital wards. Although several studies reported positive effects on patient-, pharmaceutical-, nursing-, and ward-related outcomes, the overall methodological quality was moderate and substantial heterogeneity existed in pharmacy technician roles, tasks and outcomes measured. Overall, the evidence suggests consistent beneficial effects across multiple outcome domains, although the strength of inference is limited by methodological heterogeneity and study design limitations. Further high-quality, standardised research is needed to determine the magnitude and generalisability of these effects.