Abstract
Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is both a common and high burden disease, with the majority of AR sufferers purchasing suboptimal/inappropriate AR medication from community pharmacies. Unfortunately, it is still a challenge to translate the AR management guidelines that are available at both a global and national level into practice. This study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of community pharmacists with regards to the implementation of AR management guidelines in real-life everyday practice. This exploration took the form of a qualitative research study in which pharmacists were interviewed following the implementation of a guideline-driven AR management pathway in their pharmacies. Fifteen pharmacists from six pharmacies agreed to participate in a telephone interview. Five themes were identified that encompassed the sentiment of the pharmacists during the interviews: (1) impact of training on pharmacists’ approach to patients and AR management recommendations; (2) patient engagement and the importance of appropriate tools; (3) patient barriers to change in practice; (4) physical, logistical, and inter-professional barriers to change within the pharmacy environment; and (5) recommendations for improvement. The results of this study indicate that, following the implementation of an AR management pathway, pharmacists believe that their interactions with patients around their AR were enhanced through the use of appropriate tools and education. However, if optimal AR management is to be delivered within the community pharmacy setting, the undertaking needs to be collaborative with both pharmacy assistants and general practitioners.
Highlights
Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a chronic respiratory condition affecting 19% of Australians, with a prevalence rate in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) as high as 29% [1]
19 community pharmacists implemented the AR-CMaP in six pharmacies and of those, 15 pharmacists from six pharmacies were interviewed at the end of the project
The interview duration varied from 4 min to 14 min
Summary
Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a chronic respiratory condition affecting 19% of Australians, with a prevalence rate in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) as high as 29% [1]. In Australia, AR can potentially be managed and controlled entirely with pharmacotherapy available to purchase over the counter in community pharmacies without the need to consult a pharmacist. These products are often displayed on shelves which may not be in arm’s reach of the pharmacists but, by regulation, may be in area of the pharmacy which is at a distance from the pharmacist. While it has been shown that there is an improvement in AR symptom control when people with AR consult with HCPs and guidelines are followed [5,6], there are several challenges that prevent this from occurring in practice. From the HCP perspective, factors that contribute to the suboptimal control of AR symptoms include the difficulty of translating AR guidelines into practice [7] and an increasing tendency for people with AR to self-select their treatments and bypass HCPs altogether [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
