Views of the general public on the role of pharmacy in public health (original) (raw)
Related papers
Public health
To explore the experience of and willingness to use seven pharmacy public health services related to cardiovascular risk among the general public in England. Mixed-methods study. A mixed-methods study, involving a cross-sectional survey using multiple distribution methods followed by a focus group discussion (FGD) with a sample of survey respondents. From 3596 approachable individuals, 908 questionnaires were completed (response rate 25.3%). Few respondents (2.1-12.7%) had experienced any of the seven pharmacy public health services. About 40% stated they would be willing to use health check services, fewer (9.3-26.3%) were willing to use advisory services. More females, frequent pharmacy users and those in good health were willing to use services in general (P < 0.05). Smokers, overweight individuals and those with alcohol-related problems were most willing to use specific advisory services supporting their problems (P < 0.05). FGD identified barriers to service use; for exam...
Patient preference and adherence, 2016
Services provided by community pharmacists designed to support people using medicines are increasing. In England, two national services exist: Medicine Use Reviews (MUR) and New Medicines Service (NMS). Very few studies have been conducted seeking views of the public, rather than service users, on willingness to use these services or expectations of these services, or determined whether views align with pharmacist perceptions. To compare the perceptions of pharmacists and the general public on medicines-related services, particularly MUR and NMS services. Two parallel surveys were conducted in one area of England: one involved the general public and was administered using a street survey, and the other was a postal survey of community pharmacists. Similar questionnaires were used, seeking views of services, awareness, reasons for using services, and perceived benefits. Response rates were 47.2% (1,000/2,012 approached) for the public and 40.8% (341/836) for pharmacists. Few people h...
Use of community pharmacies: a population-based survey
Journal of Public Health, 2005
Background Community pharmacies are widely used in the UK, but the services they provide are changing, with pharmacists expected to take on wider roles and responsibilities. The impact of such changes will partly depend on who uses pharmacies and their illnesses. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey of a stratified random sample of 10 000 adults aged 35 years plus. Results In the previous month, 59 per cent of respondents had collected a prescription medicine and 40 per cent had purchased an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine from a pharmacy, whereas only 12 per cent had asked for advice. Women were more likely to have obtained medicine or asked for advice (76 per cent), but nearly two-thirds of men had done so (63 per cent). Poor self-rated health was the key factor in obtaining medicine, both on prescription and OTC. Purchasers of OTC medicine were more likely to be younger and from higher socioeconomic classes, whereas those who collected prescription medicine were more likely to be older, feel at risk of vascular health problems and non-smokers. Medicines to treat cold and flu symptoms were the most frequently reported purchase type. Only a small number of respondents who asked for advice had not also obtained medicine. Respondents who asked for advice were more likely to have asked about a specific medicine or illness than to have asked for general health advice. Conclusion Whilst those with poorer health are more likely to visit, a wide range of ages and social classes visit pharmacies each month. This provides an opportunity for public health initiatives to be delivered in pharmacies.
Views of English Pharmacists on Providing Public Health Services
Pharmacy, 2015
Locally-commissioned pharmacy public health services have developed in England over the last 20 years. Few studies have sought pharmacist views on commissioning and provision of public health services in general. This study sought views of community pharmacists (n = 778) in 16 areas of England on services provided, decisions about services, support, promotion and future developments, using a postal questionnaire with two reminders. Response rate was 26.5% (206). Funded public health services provided most frequently were: emergency contraception (71%), smoking cessation (62%), and supervised drug consumption (58%). Blood pressure monitoring was provided by 61% and was considered to be one of the services pharmacists perceived as being most valued by customers, but was not National Health Services (NHS)-funded. Motivation for providing public health services was professional not financial, particularly from those working in independent pharmacies. Only 35% were personally involved in deciding which services to deliver, and fewer than 20% based decisions on local public health reports. Pharmacists had positive attitudes towards providing public health services, but mixed views on support for services and their promotion. Most thought services would increase in future, but were concerned about commissioning. Both national and local support is needed to ensure future commissioning of pharmacy public health services.
Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 2014
Background: Community pharmacists (PHs) in England are increasingly providing a range of public health services. However, the general public view pharmacists as drug experts and not experts in health, and therefore, services may be underutilized. Objectives: To explore experiences and views of 4 groups of participants, the general public, PHs, general practitioners (GPs), and other stakeholders (STs) on pharmacy-based public health services, and identify potential factors affecting service use. Methods: The study was undertaken in a locality of North West England. Three focus groups were conducted with the general public (n ¼ 16), grouped by socioeconomic status. Fourteen semistructured interviews were undertaken with PHs (n ¼ 9), GPs (n ¼ 2), and STs (n ¼ 3). Discussions/interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. Results: All 4 groups of participants agreed that community pharmacies are a good source of advice on medicines and minor ailments but were less supportive of public health services. Six factors were identified affecting utilization of pharmacy services: community pharmacy environment, pharmacist and support staff, service publicity, general public, GP services, and health care system and policies. Crucial obstacles that could inhibit service utilization are perceptions of both the general public and other health providers toward pharmacists' competencies, privacy and confidentiality in pharmacies, high dispensing workload, and inadequate financial support. Networking between local health professionals could enhance confidence in service delivery, general awareness, and thus utilization. Conclusions: Community pharmacy has the potential to deliver public health services, although the impact on public health may be limited. Addressing the factors identified could help to increase utilization and impact of pharmacy public health services.
International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 2012
Community pharmacy in England has played an increasing role in public health the last 20 years. [1] Recent policy changes, since the introduction of the NHS contractual framework in April 2005, [2] have moved pharmacy towards a more healthfocused approach. The development of public health roles enables pharmacists to provide services beyond supply of medicines such as advice about healthy lifestyles. Pharmacists work at the heart of communities making them ideally placed to promote health and deliver services to improve the health of patients and the public. The aim of this study was to evaluate the views of members of the public concerning their use, and the acceptability of, community pharmacy services designed to improve public health. Medway School of Pharmacy Ethics Committee granted ethical approval for this study. A series of street-survey structured interviews were conducted in shopping centres and High Streets at four locations in the southeast of England during a 4 week period. Respondents were asked ten questions (open and closed), regarding their health; the pharmacy services they had used; and, the services they would consider using. The inclusion criteria were adults willing to participate and the exclusion criteria were children and young people under 18 years of age. A sample of 384 adults was required (95% confidence level and 5% confidence interval) to be representative of the adult population in England. Data was subject to descriptive statistics and content analysis. A total of 480 people were interviewed from 2,416 approached, a response rate of approximately 20%. Respondents were 72% (n = 345) female and 28% (n = 135) male; 4% aged 18/19 years; 49% ages between 20-59; 35% 60-74 and 12% over 75 years. The respondents stated ethnicity was 80% White-British, 8% Asian-British, 10% Black-African/Caribbean and 2% refused to answer. The usage of pharmacies by respondents was exceptionally high, 99% (n = 476). People aged more than 75 years reported the highest regular use of pharmacy (27%, n = 16) compared with only 11% (n = 2) of younger adults (18-19 years). Only 2% (n = 1) of people over 75 said they very rarely used pharmacies compared with 39%, (n = 7) of young adults aged 18-19 years. Supply of prescribed medication to people over 60 years (84%, n = 189) and sales of over the counter medicine to people less than 60 years (64%, n = 164) were the most frequently used pharmacy services. When asked to state, from a list, which other pharmacy services they had accessed 44% (n = 210) had asked pharmacists for advice; 8% (n = 37) medicines use review; 8% blood pressure testing; 7% (n = 33) minor ailments scheme; and 3% each for stop smoking, vaccination, emergency contraception, and cholesterol testing. Services they indicated they would be willing to use were vaccinations 31% (n = 61); blood pressure testing; 30% (n = 59); cholesterol testing (28%, n = 54); minor ailments scheme (11%, n = 21); 10% each for diabetes testing and stop smoking; and 6% (n = 12) for weight management. Whilst it can be seen that the current uptake of public health services is low, participants in this study expressed a willingness to use pharmacy based public health services. The Department of Health has provided a policy framework for public health service development in pharmacy in England; however, pharmacists as individuals and as a profession have work to do to capitalise on public willingness and, increase public awareness of their roles beyond sale and supply of medicines. [3] Abstract 47 Impact of community pharmacy diabetes monitoring and education programme on diabetes management: a randomised controlled study