Needs assessment for pharmacy program creation designed to serve minority Francophone populations in Canada

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ObjectivesCurrent literature provides little insight into the need for French language pharmaceutical-services in Francophone minority settings in Canada. This study aims to understand the pharmaceutical care and services offered in French in Canada. It also aims to conduct a needs assessment in the context of curriculum development, by validating whether pharmaceutical needs are being met in Francophone minority settings in Canada. MethodsAn online survey was sent to community members and healthcare professionals. Respondents were asked to identify the perceived importance of pharmaceutical needs, and the degree to which they perceive these to be fulfilled in French and in English in their communities. Results113 community members and 109 healthcare professionals completed the survey. Most respondents were from Ontario (64.84%), Quebec (10.50%) or Atlantic provinces (10.05%). >95% of survey respondents identified that pharmaceutical needs assessed were of very high importance. The rate of pharmaceutical need fulfillment was lower in French than English across all pharmaceutical needs assessed. The greatest difference in rate of pharmaceutical need fulfillment was seen with "Having safe access to required medication". The perception of pharmaceutical needs being met was congruent between community members and healthcare professionals. ConclusionThese results confirm a lack of pharmaceutical needs being met in French in Canadian Francophone minority communities. There is a lack of French language services that limits the ability to receive care in one's own language. Pharmacy education in French may be an effective approach to improve pharmaceutical care services received in French in francophone minority communities.