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- Title
An exploration of general practitioners' and pharmacists' views and experiences of integrating a pharmacist into general practice: a qualitative study.
- Authors
Hasan Ibrahim, A S; Barry, H E; Hughes, C M
- Abstract
Introduction: Practice-based pharmacists (PBPs) have been introduced into general practice across the United Kingdom (UK) to relieve some of the pressures within primary care (1,2). However, there is little existing UK literature that has explored healthcare professionals' (HCPs') views about PBP integration and how this role has evolved. Aim: To explore the views and experiences of general practitioners (GPs), PBPs, and community pharmacists (CPs) about PBPs' integration into general practice and their impact on primary healthcare delivery. Methods: Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit triads (a GP, a PBP, and a CP) from across five administrative healthcare areas in one region in the UK to participate in one-to-one semi-structured interviews. Sampling of practices to recruit GPs and PBPs commenced in August 2020. These HCPs identified the CPs who had most contact with the general practices in which the recruited GPs and PBPs were working. The interview topic guides were developed based on the published literature, and through discussion within the research team; they were piloted with two GPs, two PBPs, and two pharmacists. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, interviews were conducted via telephone or Microsoft Teams platform. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Eleven triads were recruited from across the five administrative areas. Analysis of interview transcripts is ongoing. Findings to date have revealed four main themes in relation to PBPs' integration into general practices (Table): evolution of the role, PBP attributes, collaboration and communication, and impact on care. A number of areas for development were identified such as patient awareness of the role and communication pathways between PBPs and CPs. Many saw PBPs as a 'central hub-middleman' between general practice and community pharmacies and between primary and secondary care. Table. Results of thematic analysis Main themes Illustrative quotes Evolution of the role "I think it has the potential to be clear, I think we're still in the early stages of trying to build up a relationship with them..." [CP02] "...A lot of patients are not familiar that we have maybe pharmacist in the practice..." [GP02] PBP attributes "...communication skills are absolutely essential, communicating with patients and communicating with healthcare professionals and administrative staff within the practice..."[PBP05] "I think experience in a community pharmacy and then also probably some experience in management of chronic disease ... and I also think that they (PBPs) need to have communication skills as well" [GP07] Collaboration and communication "....so I'm sort of the middleman...I pass all that information into our community pharmacy to make sure that they can order the right items for the patient..." [PBP01] "....We don't speak to the GP as much....but they're (PBPs) more the middleman now..." [CP10] "....We are happy to come to the pharmacists (PBPs) if we have any queries about hospital letters or patients ...so I think they are integrated quite well..." [GP10] Impact on care "...I suppose that's the important thing as well, it's not that they're (PBPs) just doing work that we did, they're doing it better and it's safer, and it's better for patients......so it's not just time saving for GPs, I think it's actually improving patient care ..." [GP03] ".... I think that the patient gets much better service in terms of medicines now... so I'm really delighted by that..." [GP05] Conclusion: Participants reported that PBPs had integrated well, and perceived a positive impact on primary health care delivery. Although recruitment was limited to one UK geographical region, the triad approach provided a more comprehensive overview of the working relationships between the three HCP groups. Further work is needed to increase patient awareness of the PBP role. References: (1) Strategic Leadership Group for Pharmacy. Practice-based pharmacists' statement. 2016. (Online) Available at: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/practice-based-pharmacists.pdf (accessed 06 Oct 2021). (2) NHS England. Clinical pharmacists in general practice. 2015. (Online) Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/workforce/building-the-general-practice-workforce/cp-gp/ (accessed 06 Oct 2021).
- Subjects
ENGLAND; FAMILY medicine; PHYSICIANS' attitudes; PHARMACISTS' attitudes; CONFERENCES &; conventions; INTEGRATED health care delivery
- Publication
International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 2022, Vol 30, pi9
- ISSN
0961-7671
- Publication type
Abstract
- DOI
10.1093/ijpp/riac021.013