Totally devoted to you: A qualitative study examining the experiences of sacrifice among pharmacists in rural and regional areas.

Abstract

The health of rural and regional communities is routinely identified as poor and access to healthcare services is often limited. Rural and regional pharmacists are well placed to deliver a variety of high-quality services to their community, however there is a limited examination of the complexities of their role in rural contexts. This study seeks to examine the types of personal sacrifices and what impact these may have among pharmacists working in rural and regional communities of Australia. A qualitative approach was adopted to examine the experiences of pharmacists working in public health service and private community pharmacies across 13 rural communities in Australia. Purposive sampling was used to recruit pharmacists as part of a larger study examining the efficacy of a workforce recruitment tool (PharmCAQ). As part of the development of the tool, a one-on-one interview were conducted. A total of 20 participants were recruited. Two major themes emerged: Above all the community and More than just a script monkey that embodies the experiences of pharmacists. Centred around self-sacrifice, the first theme captures the tension that is experienced by these professionals as they tread an unsustainable path for the benefit of the community. The second theme provides some insights into the complex nature of the rural and regional context that is juxtaposed with that of their urban counterparts. Pharmacist in rural and regional areas offer a highly skilled and accessible resource to better address the growing needs of those living in rural and regional areas. Despite the opportunities that exist to expand the role of pharmacists in these areas and to capitalise on their expertise, there is a growing need to find ever better ways to support those who support others.