Factors Influencing a Community Pharmacist's Interventions in Asthma Care
Background: Little is known about current pharmacists' interventions related to drug counselling and monitoring in asthma, along with the barriers and facilitators to these, in the province of Quebec. Objectives: To identify and explore organizational, relational and professional factors that influence community pharmacists' interventions in asthma care and propose solutions to overcome the barriers to these interventions. Methods: In 2006, a survey and an invitation to participate in a focus group were sent to community pharmacists in Quebec. Three focus groups were held to discuss the results of the survey about community pharmacists' interventions in asthma and the factors influencing these interventions, along with solutions to identified barriers. Each focus group lasted for approximately 120 minutes and was moderated by 2 investigators. Results: Seventeen community pharmacists participated in the study. One focus group was held with pharmacy owners, 1 with salaried pharmacists who graduated before 1990 and 1 with salaried pharmacists who graduated after 1996. Owners and salaried pharmacists of different years of graduation generally made the same comments. Most pharmacists reported intervening with asthma patients, especially when initial prescriptions were filled. Lack of time and unclear definition of tasks were reported as barriers. Solutions were proposed to resolve barriers, such as clearly defining tasks and ensuring quick access to support materials for patient education and drug monitoring. Conclusion: Community pharmacists report intervening in asthma care mostly when patients fill their initial prescription. Several barriers to follow-up interventions were identified.