A service evaluation and stakeholder perspectives of an innovative digital minor illness referral service from NHS 111 to community pharmacy

Early identification and treatment of malignant melanoma is crucial to prevent mortality. The aim of this work was to describe the uptake, profile of users and service outcomes of a mole scanning service in the community pharmacy setting in the UK. In addition, health care costs saved from the perspective of general practice were estimated. The service allowed patients to have concerning skin lesions scanned with a dermatoscopy device which were analyzed remotely by clinical dermatology specialists in order to provide recommendations for the patient. Patients were followed up to ascertain the clinical outcome. Data were analyzed for 6355 patients and 9881 scans across 50 community pharmacies. The majority of the scans required no further follow-up (n = 8763, 88.7%). Diagnosis was confirmed for 70.4% (n = 757/1118) of scans where patients were recommended to seek further medical attention. Of these, 44.3% were ultimately defined as normal (n = 335) and 6.2% as malignant melanoma (n = 47/757). An estimated 0.7% of scans taken as part of the service led to a confirmed diagnosis of malignant melanoma. This service evaluation has shown that a mole scanning service available within community pharmacies is effective at triaging patients and ultimately playing a part in identifying diagnoses of malignant melanoma.

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Implementation of a Pharmacogenomic Testing Service through Community Pharmacy in the Netherlands: Results from an Early Service Evaluation

Pharmacy ◽

10.3390/pharmacy9010038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 38

Author(s):

Tracey Thornley ◽

Bernard Esquivel ◽

David J. Wright ◽

Hidde van den Dop ◽

Charlotte L. Kirkdale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Community Pharmacy ◽

Service Evaluation ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Potential Barriers ◽

Hospital Environments ◽

Medicines Use ◽

Test Outcomes ◽

Actionable Variants ◽

Selection Of

Community pharmacy services have evolved to include medical and pharmaceutical interventions alongside dispensing. While established pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing is available throughout the Netherlands, this is primarily based in hospital environments and for specialist medicines. The aim of this work was to describe how best to implement PGx services within community pharmacy, considering potential barriers and enablers to service delivery and how to address them. The service was implemented across a selection of community pharmacies in the Netherlands. Data were captured on test outcomes and through a pharmacist survey. Following testing, 17.8% of the clinical samples were recommended to avoid certain medication (based on their current medicines use), and 14.0% to have their dose adjusted. Pre-emptive analysis of genotyped patients showed that the majority (99.2%) had actionable variants. Pharmacists felt confident in their operational knowledge to deliver the service, but less so in applying that knowledge. Delivering the service was believed to improve relationships with other healthcare professionals. These results add to the evidence in understanding how PGx can be delivered effectively within the community pharmacy environment. Training pharmacists in how to respond to patient queries and make clinical recommendations may enhance service provision further.

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Integrating traditional Chinese medicines into professional community pharmacy practice in China – Key stakeholder perspectives

European Journal of Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.eujim.2020.101063 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 ◽

pp. 101063 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dongning Yao ◽

Hao Hu ◽

Joanna E. Harnett ◽

Carolina Oi Lam Ung

Keyword(s):

Community Pharmacy ◽

Pharmacy Practice ◽

Professional Community ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicines ◽

Chinese Medicines ◽

Stakeholder Perspectives ◽

Community Pharmacy Practice

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Feasibility and acceptability of a community pharmacy referral service for suspected lung cancer symptoms

BMJ Open Respiratory Research ◽

10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000772 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. e000772

Author(s):

Daniella Holland-Hart ◽

Grace M McCutchan ◽

Harriet Dorothy Quinn-Scoggins ◽

Kate Brain ◽

Lucy Hill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Community Pharmacy ◽

Cancer Survival ◽

Average Length ◽

Alternative Pathway ◽

Survival Rates ◽

X Rays ◽

Cancer Symptoms ◽

Referral Service ◽

Diagnosis Of Lung Cancer

BackgroundLung cancer survival rates in the UK are among the lowest in Europe, principally due to late-stage diagnosis. Alternative routes to earlier diagnosis of lung cancer are needed in socioeconomically deprived communities that are disproportionately affected by poor lung cancer outcomes. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a community-based pharmacy referral service to encourage earlier symptomatic referral for chest X-rays.MethodsSeventeen community pharmacies located in a deprived area of Wales participated between March 2019 and March 2020. Stakeholder interviews were conducted with four patients, seven pharmacy professionals and one general practitioner. Four focus groups were conducted, including one with healthcare professionals (n=6) and three with members of the public who were current and former smokers (n=13). Quantitative data regarding patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were collected from hospital records and patient referral questionnaires completed by pharmacists and analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data sets were analysed thematically and triangulated.ResultsTwelve patients used the pharmacy referral service, all of whom were male. Average length of the pharmacy consultation was 13 min, with a mean 3 days to accessing chest X-rays in secondary care. Patients experienced a mean 46-day wait for results, with no lung cancer detected. Participants found the service to be acceptable and considered the pharmacy element to be broadly feasible. Perceived barriers included low awareness of the service and concerns about the role and capacity of pharmacists to deliver the service. Facilitators included perceived approachability and accessibility of pharmacists. A well-publicised, multifaceted awareness campaign was recommended.ConclusionsA community pharmacy referral service for lung symptoms was considered an acceptable alternative pathway to symptomatic diagnosis of lung cancer in deprived communities. Wider implementation of the service would require workforce capacity and training to be addressed to ensure optimum utilisation and promotion of the service.

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The Practice of OTC Dispensing by Community Pharmacist in Nepal

Journal of Advanced Academic Research ◽

10.3126/jaar.v8i1.38422 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 44-52

Author(s):

Sangita Shakya ◽

Susmita Sedai ◽

Ronas Shakya

Keyword(s):

Community Pharmacy ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Community Pharmacists ◽

Medical Practitioner ◽

Working Hours ◽

Descriptive Study ◽

Over The Counter ◽

Minor Illness ◽

Validated Questionnaire ◽

Otc Medicines

Over the counter (OTC) medications are the group of drugs that can be sold without the prescription of a registered medical practitioner to the consumers. Pharmacists are the most accessible health care professionals to the patient for the treatment of their minor illness. To provide appropriate advice to the patient at the time of dispensing and over-the-counter (OTC) medication counselling, community pharmacists need access to current and reliable information about medicines. A descriptive study was conducted on fifty pharmacists present in the community pharmacy of Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts. Predesigned validated questionnaire consisting of 16 questions were taken for the collection of data. Qualification of pharmacists, numbers of consumer asking for OTC medication in a week, most commonly dispensed OTC medicines by pharmacists, common symptoms told by consumers and average working hour of community pharmacists were recorded. The approval from the concerned authorities was taken. The study was a community based descriptive study done for 3 months. The data of the study was analyzed by using SPSS version 18. Out of 50 Pharmacists, 27 were males and 23 were females. Most of the study populations were qualified as assistant pharmacy. 82% of Community Pharmacy encountered more than ten consumers in a week. Analgesics and antipyretics, drugs for gastritis, antiprotozoals and antihistamines were the most commonly dispensed drugs by the pharmacies. The most common symptoms enquired by patients/consumers were fever (92%), common cold (90%) and headache (86%) as reported by pharmacists respectively. Average working hours of community pharmacists were 67 hours per week. Few pharmacists knew the meaning of terms related to evidence-based health. Most respondents agreed that pharmacists have the necessary training to prescribe. There is increasing use of OTC medicines in Nepal. The study on community pharmacy practices regarding over the counter medicines can assist in evaluating pattern of use of OTC medicines by consumers thus help to reduce abuse and misuse of such medicines.

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