Community Pharmacy Services Research Articles

Unravelling facilitation complexity in community pharmacy: A pragmatic tool for implementation strategy selection.

Unravelling facilitation complexity in community pharmacy: A pragmatic tool for implementation strategy selection.

Advanced pharmaceutical services in community pharmacies

Advanced pharmaceutical services in community pharmacies

Virtual care in community pharmacy services: a scoping review.

The integration of virtual care has been essential for maintaining continuity of patient care during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Community pharmacists were among the healthcare professionals who used virtual care to provide remote pharmacy services. However, the use of virtual care in community pharmacy has not been comprehensively reviewed. To provide an overview of the types of virtual care platforms used in community pharmacy, their purposes, barriers, and facilitators, and to identify strategies for optimizing virtual care in this setting. The scoping review followed Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews. A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify studies across MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and grey literature sources. Two levels of screening were performed, and data were extracted using a pre-specified form. The data were analyzed through qualitative content analysis, and the PRISMA-ScR was used to report the results. A total of 3580 citations were assessed and 32 studies were included in the review. The qualitative data were summarized into five categories: (1) virtual care tools and technologies used in community pharmacy, (2) purpose of virtual care, (3) barriers to using virtual care, (4) facilitators of virtual care adoption, and (5) strategies to optimize virtual care use. Virtual care in community pharmacy showed promise in enhancing pharmacy services. Despite operational barriers and inequities in access, facilitators such as adequate training and technological advancements supported its implementation. Future efforts should address these challenges and refine virtual care for broader and equitable integration.

Influencing Factors for the Acceptability of Accessing HIV Pre‐exposure Prophylaxis via Community Pharmacies in Wales

ABSTRACTIntroductionHIV prevention methods, such as pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), have been a significant contributing factor to a global decline in HIV transmission. PrEP has been available through the NHS in Wales since 2017. However, access is exclusively via sexual health clinics, and those accessing PrEP do not reflect those being diagnosed with HIV. Widening access beyond sexual health clinics may be one approach to encourage more equitable uptake, and there is growing interest in offering PrEP services in community pharmacies. We, therefore, aimed to explore the acceptability of PrEP services being delivered through community pharmacies among prospective service users.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative interview study of people living in Wales who either (i) currently access, (ii) previously accessed or are (iii) considering accessing PrEP via a sexual health clinic. Participants were recruited via community networks, and interviews were conducted virtually. Our topic guide was informed by Levesque's conceptual framework of access to healthcare, and we used reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsWe interviewed 24 participants and included data from 20 in the analysis. Four themes were generated: experiences of accessing PrEP via sexual health clinics, the prospect of PrEP access via community pharmacies, other community settings in which PrEP may be accessed and concerns around integrated healthcare and healthcare data.ConclusionPrEP access via community pharmacy is likely to be an acceptable option for people. There are uncertainties surrounding what a PrEP service would look like in a community pharmacy setting, and this would need clarifying to prospective users to increase the salience of access.Patient and Public ContributionA team‐based approach was taken for developing the topic guide and agreeing on the codes for this study. This included people with lived experience of accessing PrEP in Wales.

The role of community pharmacists in point-of-care testing and treatment for influenza and Group A Streptococcus -a narrative review using Ecological Systems Theory.

The role of community pharmacists in point-of-care testing and treatment for influenza and Group A Streptococcus -a narrative review using Ecological Systems Theory.

Multi-stakeholder perspective on community pharmacy services in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review and meta-analyses for 2010–2020

Multi-stakeholder perspective on community pharmacy services in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review and meta-analyses for 2010–2020

259 Evaluation of screening services in community pharmacies: A systematic review

Objectives/Goals: To describe the evaluation processes of screening services implemented in community pharmacies. Methods/Study Population: A systematic literature review will be conducted from the last 20 years in Ovid Medline, APA PsycINFO, Clinialtrials.gov, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts. Inclusion criteria are written in English, describes a clinical or health-related screening service in a community pharmacy, and evaluation of said health screening service is included. Approximately 950 articles have been initially identified. Two authors will screen each title, abstract, and full text for inclusion. Subsequent data extraction will occur including elements of 1) evaluation framework, 2) evaluation outcomes assessed, and 3) evaluation results. All elements of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist will be followed. Quality of articles will be assessed using the MMAT. Results/Anticipated Results: Results are expected to show limited evaluation of screening services in pharmacies. Clinical conditions included in the screening services are expected to vary greatly. High-quality evaluations will be noted as templates for future evaluation of screening services in community pharmacies. Discussion/Significance of Impact: This systematic review will describe the current literature on evaluation of health screening services in community pharmacies. This will give readers an overview of how evaluations are currently being carried out in this setting, as well as provide them with templates of high-quality evaluations for future evaluation of screening services.

Patient Satisfaction with Pharmacist-Led COVID-19 Testing in Community Pharmacies: Insights from the Croatian Experience.

Background/Objective: Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals, playing a crucial role in public health. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many countries, including Croatia, have expanded the responsibilities of pharmacists. Since November 2021, Croatian pharmacists have been authorized to provide COVID-19 testing in community pharmacies. This study explores patients' perceptions of these pharmacy-based testing services. Methods: This study employed a quantitative research approach, utilizing a structured questionnaire as the primary data collection tool. The research was conducted between November 2021 and January 2022, with a total of 211 participants from diverse backgrounds. Results: The findings demonstrate a highly positive perception of COVID-19 testing services in community pharmacies. A significant majority (95.2%) of patients found pharmacist-administered testing to be convenient. Additionally, 92.3% believed that pharmacists possess the necessary skills to perform the tests, and 94.7% expressed willingness to undergo testing in a pharmacy again. Notably, 94% of respondents indicated their intention to utilize pharmacists' services for future testing. Conclusions: Croatian patients exhibit a strong positive attitude towards pharmacist-led COVID-19 testing in community pharmacies. These findings highlight the pivotal role of pharmacists in enhancing healthcare accessibility and demonstrate the value of integrating pharmacy-based testing services into public health strategies. This study provides valuable insights into the evolving role of pharmacists in healthcare delivery.

Satisfaction of the General Public Toward Community Pharmacists-Patients Education Concerning Over the Counter Medicines in Baghdad/Al-Rusafa: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Community pharmacies are considered the first contact point between patients and healthcare professionals. Pharmacists have an important role in advising patients and delivering pharmaceutical services to the community. Investigating the satisfaction of the public with this service is essential. Objective: To determine the satisfaction of the general public concerning OTC medicine dispensing in Baghdad, Rusafa region. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a modified, adapted self-administered questionnaire given to patients visiting pharmacies and a Google form online administration that focused on their satisfaction with community pharmacists and pharmacy services. It was conducted from September 2023 to April 2024 on a randomly selected population (n=891). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Of 891 patients, only 843 completed the questionnaire. 73% of respondents believed that pharmacists have enough information just like physicians, 72% were satisfied that pharmacy is a good place to get advice; only 24.2% showed that pharmacists gave them the needed instructions, and only 13.5% wrote instructions. 91.1% found pharmacies appearance good, but the overall satisfaction with pharmacy services is only 59.2% among educated and non-educated respondents. Conclusions: There is a positive perception about pharmacists as a source of instruction, education, and professional care givers to customers, but the overall satisfaction is low as pharmacists did not use their scientific knowledge and background information to serve patients in addition to the need for good communication skills and pharmacy ethics.

Community pharmacy-based buprenorphine programs and pharmacists' roles, knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to providing buprenorphine-related services: A systematic review.

Community pharmacy-based buprenorphine programs and pharmacists' roles, knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to providing buprenorphine-related services: A systematic review.

Community pharmacy services in the late COVID-19 period: What has driven change?

Community pharmacy services in the late COVID-19 period: What has driven change?

A multicenter cross-sectional survey of the role of community pharmacists, attitudes, and perceptions in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality globally and impose suffering and economic difficulties, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Community pharmacists present an opportunity for effective prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases. The overarching aim of the study was to evaluate factors associated with the extent of involvement, barriers and facilitators, and perceptions of Lesotho community pharmacists in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases. The study utilised a quantitative cross-sectional survey. A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to licensed community pharmacists across four districts between March and July 2023. Parametric and non-parametric tests were performed for data analysis using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. Apart from medicine dispensing, community pharmacists were mostly involved in hypertension (mean = 4.38±.73) and diabetes (mean = 4.17±.91) screening, weight management advice (mean = 3.81±.87), disease education (mean = 3.93±.83), medication management therapy (mean = 3.74±.99, 3.81±.88), referral of and follow up on patients (mean = 3.70±.98 and 3.87±.92). There was a significant association between the extent of involvement and pharmacy location, experience of community pharmacists, availability of tools, number of patients seen daily, and presence of other healthcare professionals at a community pharmacy (p<0.05). The most common barriers were related to patient factors (>75% agree to strongly agree), such as lack of awareness of community pharmacists' services. Community pharmacists possessed positive (mean >3) attitudes and perceptions regarding their role in cardiovascular disease management. Besides dispensing medicine, community pharmacists had varying extent of involvement in health promotion activities. The provision of these services differed between socio-demographic groups. Community pharmacists possessed good knowledge, positive attitudes towards their cardiovascular disease management role. Thus, they can improve cardiovascular disease outcomes. However, the barriers potentially limit their scope of practice and encourage inconsistent community pharmacy services. The findings present pertinent information to policy-makers, regulators, and pharmacists that can inform the development of frameworks to improve clinical and pharmacy practice in Lesotho and low- and middle-income countries.

Improving Vaccination Coverage Through Community Pharmacy Service Delivery in Nigeria: The COVID-19 Experience and Implications for Policy Review.

Globally, the use of community pharmacies and pharmacists in the delivery of vaccination services has been hampered by several factors, laws, and regulations that do not support pharmacists to participate in the delivery of vaccination services. With the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have included community pharmacists and pharmacies in vaccination services to improve coverage. This study described the delivery of vaccination services in community pharmacies using the COVID-19 experience and how their involvement impacted vaccination coverage in Nigeria. It also exposed how this experience can be used to support policy revisions to formally recognize pharmacists in immunization delivery. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 474 community pharmacists in two southwestern States in Nigeria, using a semi-structured questionnaire. It determines the number of community pharmacists who have been trained in the delivery of vaccination services, the types of vaccination services provided, and vaccines administered in their pharmacies. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics and p-value at ≤ 0.05. Response rate was 86.7%. Less than half of the respondents (40.1%) had undergone vaccination training. Of the 129 (31.4%) respondents that provide vaccination services, 72 (55.8%) administer vaccines in their pharmacies. Out of these 72 respondents; 45 (62.5%) were administering vaccines before their involvement in COVID-19 vaccine administration; 57 (79.2%) of the health personnel who administer vaccines were pharmacists; 60 (83.3%) of them administer vaccines on request; 22 (30.6%) administered COVID-19 vaccines only; and only 7 (9.7%) of the respondents had administered over 500 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Training in vaccination was associated with the vaccination services provided (p < 0.05). Respondents suggested government support through legal framework and policy review, training and empowering pharmacists in vaccine administration, and recognition of community pharmacists as PHC providers. Training of community pharmacists in vaccination services had increased the number of respondents' involvement in the delivery of the services while the delivery of COVID-19 vaccination by community pharmacists had increased the number of clients vaccinated, hence improved coverage in Nigeria. Also, policy review and inclusion of community pharmacists and pharmacies in the national database will improve vaccination coverage and immunization service delivery in Nigeria.

Patterns of Health Services and Medicine Utilisation by First-Generation Pakistani Immigrants in New Zealand.

The health-seeking patterns of the increasing Pakistani migrant population in New Zealand (NZ) is a subject of limited research in current literature. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate and understand the patterns of health services utilisation and medicine usage among first-generation Pakistani immigrants in NZ. Convenience and snowball sampling using social media platforms were used to conduct eleven semi-structured interviews consisting of two participants per interview. The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed iteratively using an inductive thematic approach. Self-medication emerged as a common practice by the majority of the participants and this practice stemmed from personal experiences, existing knowledge, and personal and cultural beliefs. However, participants had limited knowledge of the NZ health system and community pharmacy services and this led to conflicting expectations and outcomes. These factors serve as barriers to healthcare access for Pakistani immigrants and can result in adverse health outcomes and higher rates of dissatisfaction. This study highlights the healthcare challenges and behaviours of Pakistani immigrants in NZ, emphasising their reliance on traditional remedies and self-medication. While appreciating the quality of NZ's healthcare, participants faced barriers like cost and lack of awareness of pharmacy services. The findings call for culturally tailored strategies to improve accessibility and healthcare experiences for immigrants. Two individuals from the Pakistani community, not part of the study, contributed to the design by offering feedback and pilot testing the interview guide. Based on their input, adjustments were made to enhance the clarity of the questions from a patient's or public viewpoint. No new questions were proposed as a result of this feedback.

Patients' views and experiences of the first community pharmacy-based medication therapy management clinic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): A qualitative study.

This qualitative study aimed to describe patients' experiences of a community pharmacy (CP)-based medication therapy management program (MTM). Qualitative, semistructured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of patients with uncontrolled diabetes who received care at a CP-based MTM clinic. Interviews were conducted in the MTM clinic of Health Kingdom CP in Riyadh City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by a research pharmacist using an interview guide. Data collection was continued until data saturation. All interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. A total of 16 patients, of whom more than half were male, were interviewed between October 2021 and March 2022. The mean ± standard deviation age of the patients was 52.0 ± 8.9 years, whereas the mean number of years since the first diagnosis of diabetes was 11.2 ± 7.3 years. Three main themes emerged from the interviews: perceived benefits and outcomes of the program, factors driving positive patient experiences, and challenges and recommendations for enhancing MTM service. Generally, patients were satisfied with the quality of advanced care that they received at the clinic and recognized the importance of the pharmacist's role. Furthermore, the program was perceived by patients as an opportunity to transition to a healthier lifestyle. Patients also highlighted a few barriers related to follow-up, such as accessibility, and issues with the service, such as long waiting times. Finally, there were some suggestions for patient improvement. These include expanding the clinic space, initiating educational and follow-up messages, and cooperating with other specialists as required. Patients received the MTM program very positively with noticeable health benefits. Barriers to effective follow-up and care should be addressed before implementing this service in wider community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

Digital healthcare services in community pharmacies in Switzerland: Pharmacist and patient acceptability, and pharmacist readiness-the Pneumoscope™ pilot study.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-based pharmaceutical services in community pharmacy (CP) settings has the potential to enhance point-of-care services and improve informed patient access to healthcare. The Pneumoscope™, an innovative AI-powered digital stethoscope that analyses lung sounds to detect specific respiratory pathologies, could be a valuable tool for pharmacists in conducting respiratory screening. To understand how this device can be implemented in the healthcare system, this exploratory research aims to assess the acceptability of pharmacists and patients, and the pharmacists' readiness to use the Pneumoscope™ in CPs for respiratory disease management. A 2-stage exploratory approach was conducted using mixed methods: 1) a qualitative analysis of pharmacists' acceptability and readiness was developed using semi-structured interviews and focus groups ; 2) followed by a quantitative cross-sectional survey of patients' acceptability of the device in CPs. Pharmacists were generally positive about the integration of e-health services into their daily clinical practice, recognizing their potential to improve advanced pharmaceutical triage and collaboration with physicians. Most patients were satisfied with the care provided by CPs, and their acceptability to use the Pneumoscope™ was significantly associated with their level of confidence in AI (p = 0.0092) and with the location of their CP (p = 0.0276). Digital devices such as the Pneumoscope™ have the potential to reinforce the pharmacists' clinical roles within an interprofessional team and improve patient care, but further scientific evaluation and implementation are necessary to support its integration and ensure its reimbursement by health insurers.

Consumer Behavior in Acute Diarrhea Treatment: Analyzing Trust in Pharmacy Employees

Pharmacy employees play a critical role in managing minor ailments, including acute diarrhea and they are essential to ensuring the safe use of medicines and contribute significantly to public health education. The study aim is to evaluate the role of pharmacy employees in managing minor ailment, with a specific focus on acute diarrhea. The study also explored consumer behavior in seeking treatment for diarrhea, the extent of reliance on pharmacy employees for advice, and the factors influencing consumer trust in community pharmacy services. A survey was conducted between 2019 and the first trimester of 2021, involving 383 pharmacy consumers from various regions of Republic of Armenia, including Yerevan. The study was quantitative and the questionnaire developed based on the World Health Organization’s standard guidelines. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software package, employing descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient to examine relationships between characteristics. The results of research indicated that a considerable proportion of respondents had doctor-diagnosed health disease, while others reported no such diagnoses despite believing they had various diseases. Frequent community pharmacy visits were common, with a significant number of respondents purchasing medicines multiple times per month. Acute diarrhea and gastrointestinal disorders emerged as some of the most commonly self-managed conditions, often without specialist consultation. Only a small percent of consumers sought advice from pharmacy employees during case of diarrhea, with many relying instead on previous experience or non-professional sources. The study highlighted general reluctance to seek professional advice from pharmacy employees, largely due to mistrust and past negative experiences. This behavior can result in irrational treatment, delayed medical intervention, and the misuse of medicines, particularly antibiotics. The findings underscore the need for enhanced public education and stronger engagement between community pharmacy employees and consumers to promote safer and more informed use of medicines.

What are the priorities for improving quality for community pharmacy professional services? Nominal group technique discussions with multiple stakeholders

BackgroundHealthcare systems globally are expanding community pharmacy services to meet patient needs and reduce healthcare costs. In England this includes helping community pharmacies to provide integrated professional services but concerns persist over quality of care. This study aimed to identify priorities from key stakeholders for improving the quality of professional community pharmacy services.MethodsSix homogenous nominal group (NG) discussions (face-to-face and online) involved 36 participants from diverse stakeholder backgrounds. Participants included patients (n = 10), community pharmacists (n = 7), general practitioners, a general practice-based pharmacist (n = 4), community pharmacy service regulators (n = 5), Community Pharmacy England members (n = 4), and Local Pharmaceutical Committee members (n = 6), both responsible for negotiating services. Delbecq’s NG technique included silent idea generation, round-robin feedback, discussion, and ranking for consensus building. Discussions were audio-recorded and verbatim transcripts analysed thematically using NVivo12. Emerging themes across all NGDs were analysed by thematic analyses. Individual discrete ranking within each NGD were then combined by summing the mean scores of the categories within each theme.ResultsFive key themes emerged from qualitative analysis across all NGDs: quality service design, sustained funding, integration with the wider healthcare system, positioning community pharmacy as a hub for patient needs, and adequate workforce training, optimising staffing and retention. Participants emphasised the need for long-term commitment to quality service design centred on addressing local patient need, sustained and predictable funding. Community pharmacy staff having some access to patient records for making informed clinical decisions was discussed. Scoring priorities ranked as follows (highest to lowest): ensuring quality service design, sustained funding, integration with healthcare systems, community pharmacy as patient hubs, and workforce training and retention, reflecting different stakeholder priorities in these areas.ConclusionThis study highlighted core priority areas for a framework to improve the quality of community pharmacy professional services within a more responsive and integrated primary care led healthcare system.

Changes in provision of extended community pharmacy services in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2018 to 2022

BackgroundRecognition is growing of the contributions community pharmacists make to the primary health care team, as their role shifts from a traditional dispensing focus to greater emphasis on fully applying their clinical skills. Some extended pharmacist services (e.g., vaccinations) are becoming increasingly common in New Zealand (Aotearoa). Community pharmacies provided key services during the COVID-19 response.MethodsAn online survey was sent to community and intern pharmacists in 2022, regarding delivery of extended services and enablers and barriers to service provision, to look at changes since a 2018 survey. New questions were included regarding pharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic.Descriptive analyses were conducted, and comparisons made between reported proportions in the 2018 and 2022 surveys. For questions related to attributes of pharmacies rather than pharmacists, we weighted the data by the inverse of the number of pharmacists in the pharmacy.ResultsA total of 64 pharmacists and 25 interns responded to the survey. The most common services for which pharmacists were accredited were the provision of the emergency contraceptive pill (95%), sildenafil (94%), trimethoprim (88%) and immunisations (80%). There was an increase from 2018 to 2022 in the proportion of pharmacists who were accredited to provide selected oral contraceptives and immunisations. As in 2018, interns showed strong interest in gaining accreditation for all extended services. Enablers and barriers to offering extended services did not change materially between 2018 and 2022, other than a greater proportion of pharmacists reporting that they were too busy dispensing to offer more services (an increase from 46 to 63%, P = 0.033). Almost all (98%) reported that “COVID increased the levels of stress at work”, 94% that “workload has increased”, and 90% that “home delivery services increased.” Sixty-nine percent of pharmacists and 73% of interns reported work stress negatively affecting their wellbeing.ConclusionsMost pharmacists want to work at the top of their scope of practice and are accredited to offer a range of extended services. However, their ability to focus on more patient-facing roles continues to be constrained by the time they spend dispensing. Adequate remuneration for services provided remains a concern.

Community Pharmacy Services, Pharmacy Attendance and Patients’ Satisfaction in the Southern Region of Jordan: A Community-Based study

Community Pharmacy Services, Pharmacy Attendance and Patients’ Satisfaction in the Southern Region of Jordan: A Community-Based study