Abstract
Background Recently, there has been shifts from providing large volumes to providing higher quality of healthcare services. This qualitative exploratory study was conducted to explore the views of different stakeholders on activities and services that could serve as quality indicators of pharmaceutical care in Palestinian integrative healthcare facilities. Methods A judgmental sampling technique was used to invite and recruit stakeholders for this study. Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with the stakeholders. Data collected during the interviews were qualitatively analyzed using the interpretive description methodology. Themes, subthemes, and patterns were recognized using the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven. The data were coded using RQDA software. Results Interviews (n = 22) were conducted with 9 complementary and alternative medicine practitioners, 8 pharmacists, 2 physicians, 2 nurses, and 1 risk/quality assurance manager. The interview median duration was 41 with an IQR of 22 min. Following the thematic analysis adopted to achieve the objectives of this study, six major themes emerged from the data collected from the interviews. The themes emerged from the data were (1) provision of collaborative, direct, and comprehensive patient care services; (2) common services and activities at the time of admission, during stay, at transition between wards/services/hospitals, and at discharge to home or community care; (3) screening for, identifying, and resolving problems; (4) collaboration with other healthcare providers; (5) professional development; and (6) performance and efficiency. Conclusions Quality indicators are invaluable for informing decisions relevant to justifying allocation of scarce resources, securing funds, and demonstrating value in activities and services within integrative healthcare facilities. Further studies are still needed to develop a set of measurable indicators to measure the impact of pharmaceutical care in integrative healthcare facilities.
Highlights
Integrative medicine has emerged as a holistic approach to healthcare in which different forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are integrated in conventional Western medicine [1, 2]
Following the thematic analysis adopted to achieve the objectives of this study, six major themes emerged from the data collected from the interviews. e themes emerged from the data were (1) provision of collaborative, direct, and comprehensive patient care services; (2) common services and activities at the time of admission, during stay, at transition between
Summary of the Main Findings of the Study. is qualitative study sought to explore views of different stakeholders on activities and services that could be used as quality indicators of pharmaceutical care in integrative healthcare facilities
Summary
Integrative medicine has emerged as a holistic approach to healthcare in which different forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are integrated in conventional Western medicine [1, 2]. Blending CAM within Western medicine has allowed healthcare providers to develop individualized care plans, catering to the different needs of patients, and provide holistic healthcare services that incorporate the mind, body, spirituality, and a sense of belonging to the community [1,2,3]. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine competencies of pharmacists in providing healthcare services in integrative medicine have been recognized [10]. Is qualitative exploratory study was conducted to explore the views of different stakeholders on activities and services that could serve as quality indicators of pharmaceutical care in Palestinian integrative healthcare facilities. Interviews (n 22) were conducted with 9 complementary and alternative medicine practitioners, 8 pharmacists, 2 physicians, 2 nurses, and 1 risk/quality assurance manager. Following the thematic analysis adopted to achieve the objectives of this study, six major themes emerged from the data collected from the interviews. Further studies are still needed to develop a set of measurable indicators to measure the impact of pharmaceutical care in integrative healthcare facilities
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