An evaluation of an intervention designed to improve the evidence-based supply of non-prescription medicines from community pharmacies

Ngwerume, Karebor; Watson, Margaret; Bond, Christine; Blenkinsopp, Alison

doi:10.1111/ijpp.12118

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(76 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Community pharmacists are seen as the most accessible health professionals [ 58 ] and are ideally placed to provide advice on both symptom presentations and OTC medication requests [ 61 , 62 ]. Some have argued that their accessibility makes community pharmacy well suited to offer extended health services, providing convenient access points to those who are unable to use other services [ 58 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there potential for the future provision of triage services in community pharmacy?

Curley

Moody

Gobarani

et al. 2016

J of Pharm Policy and Pract

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundWorldwide the demands on emergency and primary health care services are increasing. General practitioners and accident and emergency departments are often used unnecessarily for the treatment of minor ailments. Community pharmacy is often the first port of call for patients in the provision of advice on minor ailments, advising the patient on treatment or referring the patient to an appropriate health professional when necessary. The potential for community pharmacists to act as providers of triage services has started to be recognised, and community pharmacy triage services (CPTS) are emerging in a number of countries. This review aimed to explore whether key components of triage services can be identified in the literature surrounding community pharmacy, to explore the evidence for the feasibility of implementing CPTS and to evaluate the evidence for the appropriateness of such services.MethodsSystematic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) databases from 1980 to March 2016.ResultsKey elements of community pharmacy triage were identified in 37 studies, which were included in the review. When a guideline or protocol was used, accuracy in identifying the presenting condition was high, with concordance rates ranging from 70 % to 97.6 % between the pharmacist and a medical expert. However, when guidelines and protocols were not used, often questioning was deemed insufficient. Where other health professionals had reviewed decisions made by pharmacists and their staff, e.g. around advice and referral, the decisions were considered to be appropriate in the majority of cases. Authors of the included studies provided recommendations for improving these services, including use of guidelines/protocols, education and staff training, documentation, improving communication between health professional groups and consideration of privacy and confidentiality.ConclusionWhilst few studies had specifically trialled triage services, results from this review indicate that a CPTS is feasible and appropriate, and has the potential to reduce the burden on other healthcare services. Questions still remain on issues such as ensuring the consistency of the service, whether all pharmacies could provide this service and who will fund the service.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there potential for the future provision of triage services in community pharmacy?

Curley

Moody

Gobarani

et al. 2016

J of Pharm Policy and Pract

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Community pharmacies are located in most towns and cities, the majority of which offer pharmacist consultations that run on a D r a f t A J P E A c c e p t e d D r a f t 'drop in' basis, making access to professional healthcare knowledge easily accessible to the public. 15,16 Community pharmacies can play an important influential role in the education and management of minor ailments. This is done through the supply of non-prescription medicines, patient advice and referral to other health care practitioners when appropriate.…”

Section: R a F T A J P E A C C E P T E D D R A F Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ability of Pharmacy Students, Pharmacists and Pharmacy Support Staff to Manage Childhood Fever via Simulation

Wigmore

Collins

Schneider

et al. 2018

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective. Fever is a common childhood symptom of illness often mismanaged by caregivers.Community pharmacies can provide an influential role in the education and management of fever.This study aimed to ascertain how pharmacy students (novices) and pharmacy staff (experts) respond to a childhood fever scenario.Methods. Data were collected from 65 second year students and 51 fourth (final) year students in an over-the-counter fever scenario during assessment tasks. Data from pharmacy staff were collected via mystery shopping conducted over nine weeks between March-October 2015. All encounters were immediately scored by the trained simulated client, and immediate feedback was provided for pharmacy staff and fourth year students. Questioning scores (WHAT) and proportions of competent participants were collected in all groups. Statistical comparative analyses were made between fourth year students and pharmacy staff. Pharmacy staff scores were also tracked over time.Results. Second year students performed well when questioning, achieving a median WHAT score of 100%. Conversely, pharmacy staff scored 22%. A large proportion of the fourth year students and pharmacy staff achieved appropriate outcomes (92% and 65% respectively), however a smaller proportion of second years performed well (52%). The pharmacy staff achieved statistical improvements over time for median WHAT scores (p<0.001). Conclusions.Protocol compliant questioning appears to decline with experience. However, experienced counsellors are more likely to provide appropriate patient advice. Further improvements in outcomes can also occur when staff are provided feedback and coaching. Mystery shopping simulations can be used as a valuable educational tool.

show abstract

“…Pharmacies are important locations for those seeking non-prescription medicines and are equipped to manage a wide variety of ailments. 9 10 As pharmacies can play a major role through the provision of medicines and advice giving, it is important that pharmacy staff are adherent to guidelines and provide their patients with evidence-based treatment and advice to ensure optimal health outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mystery shopping and coaching as a form of audit and feedback to improve community pharmacy management of non-prescription medicine requests: an intervention study

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectivesTo determine whether repeated mystery shopping visits with feedback improve pharmacy performance over nine visits and to determine what factors predict an appropriate outcome.DesignProspective, parallel, repeated intervention, repeated measures mystery shopping (pseudopatient) design.SettingThirty-six community pharmacies in metropolitan Sydney, Australia in March–October 2015.ParticipantsSixty-one University of Sydney pharmacy undergraduates acted as mystery shoppers. Students enrolled in their third year of Bachelor of Pharmacy in 2015 were eligible to participate. Any community pharmacy in the Sydney metropolitan region was eligible to take part and was selected through convenience sampling.InterventionRepeated mystery shopping with immediate feedback and coaching.Outcome measuresOutcome for each given scenario (appropriate or not) and questioning scores for each interaction.ResultsFive hundred and twenty-one visits were analysed, of which 54% resulted in an appropriate outcome. Questioning scores and the proportion of interactions resulting in an appropriate outcome significantly improved over time (P<0.001). Involvement of pharmacists, visit number, increased questioning score and the prescribed scenario were predictors of an appropriate outcome (P=0.008, P=0.022, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Interactions involving a pharmacist had greater scores than those without (P<0.001).ConclusionsRepeated mystery shopping visits with feedback were associated with improved pharmacy performance over time. Future work should focus on the role of non-pharmacist staff and design interventions accordingly.

show abstract

An evaluation of an intervention designed to improve the evidence-based supply of non-prescription medicines from community pharmacies

Abstract: Bradford Scholars -how to deposit your paper Overview Copyright check• Check if your publisher allows submission to a repository.• Use the Sherpa RoMEO database if you are not sure about your publisher's position or email openaccess@bradford.ac.uk.

Cited by 12 publications

References 38 publications

Is there potential for the future provision of triage services in community pharmacy?

Is there potential for the future provision of triage services in community pharmacy?

Ability of Pharmacy Students, Pharmacists and Pharmacy Support Staff to Manage Childhood Fever via Simulation

Mystery shopping and coaching as a form of audit and feedback to improve community pharmacy management of non-prescription medicine requests: an intervention study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About