European barriers to the implementation of pharmaceutical care

Abstract

Abstract Objective To establish the perceived barriers to the implementation of pharmaceutical care into community pharmacy practice in different European countries and the relative importance of these barriers. Method Structured interviews with representatives from national pharmacists' organisations or pharmaceutical care researchers from 11 European countries known to be actively attempting to implement pharmaceutical care. Respondents were asked to consider a list of 25 potential barriers to pharmaceutical care and to score the relative importance of each for their own country. Data were analysed to produce a European overview of barriers as well as inter-country comparisons. Key findings Lack of time and lack of money are major barriers for the implementation of pharmaceutical care in European countries. Many other barriers were identified, but their impact on the implementation of pharmaceutical care seems to differ markedly over Europe. No correlation was found between money and time as barriers. Some clusters of countries were identified with similar barrier patterns. Conclusion Time and money are perceived to be major both in absolute and relative rankings. The European pharmaceutical associations need to pay attention to remuneration issues before attempting to implement pharmaceutical care in their countries. The results also show that pharmaceutical organisations need to work continuously to change attitudes among pharmacists. Important barriers have also been identified in the educational domain and changes in the European curriculae for pharmacy are therefore needed. Co-operation between some countries on these issues would appear to be useful.