Barriers and facilitators to patient-centred care in pharmacy consultations: A qualitative study with Malaysian hospital pharmacists and patients

Abstract

Background Patient-centred care (PCC) has been suggested to provide benefits such as improved patient-healthcare provider communication and better disease self-management to patients. The practice of PCC should involve all healthcare professionals, including pharmacists who are well-positioned in providing pharmaceutical care to patients. However, a better understanding of the factors that can affect the practice of PCC in pharmacists’ consultations is needed. Objective To explore the perceptions of Malaysian hospital pharmacists and patients on the barriers and facilitators of a PCC approach in pharmacist consultations. Design This study employed a qualitative, explorative semi-structured interview design. Setting and participants Interviews were conducted with 17 patients and 18 pharmacists from three tertiary hospitals in Malaysia. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Emerging themes were developed through a constant comparative approach and thematic analysis. Results Three themes were identified in this study: (i) patient-related factors (knowledge, role expectations, and sociocultural characteristics), (ii) pharmacist-related factors (personalities and communication), and (iii) healthcare institutional and system-related factors (resources, continuity of care, and interprofessional collaboration). Pharmacists and patients mentioned that factors such as patients’ knowledge and attitudes and pharmacists’ personality traits and communication styles can affect patients’ engagement in the consultation. Long waiting time and insufficient manpower were perceived as barriers to the practice of PCC. Continuity of care and interprofessional collaboration were viewed as crucial in providing supportive and tailored care to patients. Conclusion The study findings outlined the potential factors of PCC that may influence its implementation in pharmacist consultations. Strategic approaches can be undertaken by policymakers, healthcare institutions, and pharmacists themselves to address the identified barriers to more fully support the implementation of PCC in the pharmacy setting.

A systematic review of reviews on the advantages of mHealth utilization in mental health services: A viable option for large populations in low-resource settings

“…The data collected can be analyzed to anticipate changes in clinical conditions and guide the provision of personalized interventions based on the specific needs of each individual (Seppälä et al, 2019). Numerous research studies have highlighted the importance of promptness and timeliness in the delivery of healthcare services as a crucial component of patient-centered care (Smart and Titus, 2011; Ng et al, 2021); Therefore, by incorporating mHealth technology into mental health services, it is possible to address the issue of timeliness, which is a fundamental component of patient-centered care. This can be achieved through the effective utilization of mHealth tools and resources.…”