Role of community pharmacy in public health

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 77-81
Author(s):  
Senthil kumar V ◽  
Mahesh kumar V P ◽  
Senthil kumar S K ◽  
Rajalingam D
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Healthcare Expenditure ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Indian Community ◽  
Medicine Development ◽  
National Healthcare

Currently, in every country, community pharmacists play an essential role as they take responsibility for access to healthcare for the medicine-related needs of patients. In India, however, only the provision of medicines remains the central movement of the group pharmacist. In the country, patient-oriented treatment is still rarely given by most community pharmacists. As domestic medicine development and national healthcare expenditure rise rapidly, the role of pharmacists in society and, with it, their management of medicines will change. The aim of this editorial is to examine the genesis of the private-owned Indian community pharmacy and to outline its education, training and prospects.

scholarly journals The current and potential role of community pharmacy in asset-based approaches to health and wellbeing: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayne Astbury ◽  
Ellen Schafheutle ◽  
Jane Brown ◽  
Christopher Cutts
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Pharmacy Practice ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Applied Theory ◽  
Protected Time

AbstractBackground Asset-based approaches seek to positively mobilise the strengths, capabilities, and resources of individuals and communities. To date, limited consideration has been given to the potential value of this approach in relation to community pharmacy practice, yet this is important and timely given community pharmacy’s expanding role and contribution to public health initiatives. Objectives This qualitative study aimed to explore the current and potential role of community pharmacy in asset-based approaches. Methods Fifteen semi-structured telephone interviews were undertaken with community pharmacists and project leads, and public health policy and strategic leads in the UK. Transcripts were analysed using simultaneous inductive open and deductive coding using an applied Theory of Change as an illustrative lens. Results The shift towards patient-facing roles in community pharmacy was felt to offer expanded relational opportunities to engage and collaborate with individuals, communities, and other stakeholders. However, only a small number of respondents described examples of systemic asset-based working within the pharmacy sector. The adoption of asset-based approaches was challenged or enabled by several factors including the availability of protected time/resources, workplace and organisational culture/values, strategic leadership, commissioning, and funding arrangements. Conclusions The study provides valuable insights into the potential for community pharmacy, a previously unconsidered sector, to further adopt and contribute to asset-based approaches and play a more central role in the improvement of public health and reduction of health inequalities.

scholarly journals Exploring the independent prescribing role of the community pharmacists in Wales

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i35-i35
Author(s):  
S S Alghamdi ◽  
R Deslandes ◽  
S White ◽  
K Hodson ◽  
A Mackridge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Committee Report ◽  
Independent Prescribing ◽  
General Practices ◽  
The Government ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Since 2019, the role of independent pharmacist prescribers (IPPs) in primary care has extended to community pharmacies in Wales [1]. This was in response to a Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee report in 2019 that outlined a plan to include an IPP in each community pharmacy in Wales by 2030. This aimed to relieve pressure on general practices, enhance patient care and reduce referral and admission rates to secondary care [2]. As funding was provided by the Government, the number of community pharmacists completing the independent prescribing course increased and many have implemented their prescribing role. Aim To explore the views of community IPPs regarding their prescribing role within community pharmacies in Wales. Methods Semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted with community IPPs from all seven health boards (HBs) in Wales. Ethical approval was obtained from the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Cardiff University and the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering at Keele University. Purposive sampling was used to identify potential participants. Gatekeepers (HB community pharmacy leads and directors of IPP courses in Wales) sent invitation emails, participant information sheet and consent form to potential participants. Written consent was obtained. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed ad verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Thirteen community IPPs across Wales participated. Six themes were identified, including the utilisation of their role as community IPPs, their experiences with their independent prescribing training, motivation to obtain their prescribing qualification and utilise it, the impact, barriers and facilitators to implement and utilise their role. Participants practised as IPPs in the management of minor ailments and some other conditions, such as respiratory and sexual health. The course and training for community IPPs was helpful, but there was a need to focus more on therapeutic and clinical examination skills. The main impact of the role was that it helped to improve communication between community pharmacies and general practices and relieved some pressure on general practices. The main barriers were the lack of appropriate funding by the Government to develop the role, lack of access to patients’ medical records, lack of support and high workload. “One of the areas identified as high risk is for pharmacy prescribers is the lack of access to clinical records. How can you [as community IPPs] make any sensible decisions with half the information?” IPP6 Facilitators included that some services were already in place and the drive from the 2030 vision. Conclusion This is the first study that explored the views of community IPPs regarding their prescribing role in community pharmacies in Wales. It provided an insight into this new role that can be considered by the Welsh Government to achieve the 2030 vision for this role. A limitation to this study was that the role is still new in community pharmacies, which may affect the views of the community IPPs. Many of them have obtained their prescribing qualification but have not started to utilise it yet. Further work is needed to explore a wider population of community IPPs’ experiences as the role develops. References 1. Wickware, C. 2019. All community pharmacies in Wales to have an independent prescriber as part of long-term plan for Welsh pharmacy. Available at: https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/news/all-community-pharmacies. 2. Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee. 2019. Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales. Available at: https://www.rpharms.com/Portals/0/RPS%2.

scholarly journals Provision of community pharmacy services during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Estonia – experiences and future implications

2022 ◽  
Vol 131 ◽  
pp. 02005
Author(s):  
Kristiina Sepp ◽  
Kadi Lubi ◽  
Hedvig Rass ◽  
Daisy Volmer
Keyword(s):  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Emergency Situation ◽  
Community Pharmacy Services ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Pharmacy Services ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Textual Content

The spread of COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 had significant impact on the functioning of the existing healthcare system and required fast adaption to new circumstances for continuing with daily practices. Community pharmacists shared responsibility of ensuring supply of medicines and medical devices, educating people on health related issues, providing pharmaceutical care etc. The aim of this study was to understand how the provision of community pharmacy services changed during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in spring of 2020 in Estonia. Qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. Recorded interviews with community pharmacists (n = 21) and experts (n =10) were transcribed verbatim and a systematic text condensation method for textual content analysis was performed. The findings indicated that a number of changes took place in provision of community pharmacy services to assure continuity in providing high-quality pharmacy services in crisis, including addressing difficulties in the supply of medicines; at the same time, to acquire new knowledge for counselling health related topics and personal protective equipment, and to provide psychological support to people in stress. Pandemic had an impact on the content and structure of traditional community pharmacy services in Estonia. The need for expanded professional role of pharmacists was clearly expressed in an emergency situation.

scholarly journals Patients’ Perception of a Community Pharmacist-Managed Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Program in Peru: A Public Health Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean O'Brien ◽  
Jacy Downey
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Community Pharmacist ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Resistant Tuberculosis ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis ◽  
Mdr Tb

Objectives: The primary objective is to investigate the public’s perception about the role of the community pharmacist in Peru’s directly observed treatment, short course (DOTS) program. The secondary objective is to assess perceived barriers that would prevent the public from utilizing community pharmacists in order to identify future opportunities for community pharmacists to increase adherence to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) therapy. Design: Qualitative study comprised of an 8 close-ended survey questionnaire. Setting: Healthcare clinics established by a medical mission group in Lima and surrounding communities, Peru, from July 13 to July 27, 2015. Participants: Patients 15 years of age and over who sought healthcare at the clinics. Main outcome measures: Public’s perception about the role of the community pharmacist in Peru and barriers that would prevent the public from seeking a community pharmacist. Results: Out of the 445 patients approached, 438 patients completed the survey, resulting in a 98% response rate. More than half (52%) of the respondents were likely to seek a community pharmacist to assist them in completing a MDR-TB medication regimen. Almost half (48%) of the respondents felt comfortable with assistance of a community pharmacist in completing an MDR-TB regimen. The physician was the first health care professional that was contacted for all medical situations, including drug-related questions (61%). Lack of privacy in the pharmacy (53%) and busyness of the pharmacists (52%) were the top perceived barriers for asking community pharmacists questions. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for pharmacist participation in Peru’s DOTS program. Furthermore, this investigation has identified several issues of concern related to current community pharmacy practice in Peru. Therefore, future efforts may be necessary to address these identified areas of opportunity to promote the community pharmacist’s role in health screening, drug therapy monitoring, and counseling to decrease the public health burden of MDR-TB. Conflict of Interest We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents or royalties.   Type: Original Research

History of Infectious Diseases

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Maria Ines Zanoli Sato
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
History Of

This chapter provides a review of infectious disease to date and the challenges they may present in the future. The main pandemics that have driven the history of humanity are described, from the first to be recorded in 3180 BC to more recent ones such as AIDIS, SARS and others associated with emerging pathogens. The essential role of emerging scientific specialisms (particularly microbiology, public health and sanitary engineering) to our understanding of the causes of these diseases (and how they may be better monitored, controlled and prevented) is presented. Globalization and climate change, determining factors for the ecology of infectious diseases and their emergence and re-emergence, are discussed and point to the urgent need for research to deal with these threats that continue to have a significant impact on human development and wellbeing.

Barriers in the public health role of community pharmacists: a qualitative study

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chijioke O. Agomo ◽  
Jane Portlock ◽  
James Ogunleye
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
The Public

The Essential Role of Technology in the Public Health Battle Against COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 361-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Y. Uohara ◽  
James N. Weinstein ◽  
David C. Rhew
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
The Public
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