Abstract:Pharmacies play a vital role in improving access to family planning (FP) services in urban areas. They complement the resource-limited public health system and are viewed as key access points for contraceptives among young people (10–24 years) and the general population. The Challenge Initiative East Africa (TCI EA), in collaboration with the health management teams of Mombasa, Kilifi, and the Nairobi counties in Kenya and the Kenya Pharmaceutical Association (KPA) piloted an innovative public-private partners… Show more
“…This can be through the provision of resources to facilitate the adoption of PHI delivery through, for example, the provision of materials to promote awareness and offering equipment at a subsidized price that is affordable to pharmacists [ 63 ]. The vital role that community pharmacies play in improving health indicators is recognized globally, however, their inclusion in the design of policies, countries’ health strategies, regulations and monitoring is minimal [ 64 ]. The government can therefore play a role by establishing clear guidelines, policies, and regulatory frameworks to guide the integration of this role into broader health systems tailored to the unique landscape of each country.…”
Background
Community pharmacies are the first point of contact for most people seeking treatment for minor illnesses globally. In recent years, the role of community pharmacists has evolved, and they play a significant role in the delivery of public health interventions (PHIs) aimed at health promotion and prevention such as smoking cessation services, weight management services, HIV prevention, and vaccination. This review aims to explore the evidence on the factors that influence community pharmacists to take up the role of delivery of such interventions.
Methods
Three electronic databases namely, Embase (1947-December 2023), Medline (1975-December 2023), and Scopus (1823-December 2023) were searched for relevant literature from the inception of the database to December 2023. Reference lists of included articles were also searched for relevant articles. A total of 22 articles were included in the review based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were analyzed and synthesized using a thematic approach to identify the factors that influence the community pharmacist’s decision to take up the role of PHI delivery. Reporting of the findings was done according to the PRISMA checklist.
Findings
The search identified 10,927 articles of which 22 were included in the review. The main factors that drive the delivery of PHIs by community pharmacists were identified as; training and continuous education, remuneration and collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Other factors included structural and workflow adjustments and support from the government and regulatory bodies.
Conclusions
Evidence from this review indicates that the decision to expand the scope of practice of community pharmacists is influenced by various factors. Incorporating these factors into the design of policies and public health programs is critical for the successful integration of community pharmacists in the delivery of broader public health to meet the rising demand for health care across health systems.
“…This can be through the provision of resources to facilitate the adoption of PHI delivery through, for example, the provision of materials to promote awareness and offering equipment at a subsidized price that is affordable to pharmacists [ 63 ]. The vital role that community pharmacies play in improving health indicators is recognized globally, however, their inclusion in the design of policies, countries’ health strategies, regulations and monitoring is minimal [ 64 ]. The government can therefore play a role by establishing clear guidelines, policies, and regulatory frameworks to guide the integration of this role into broader health systems tailored to the unique landscape of each country.…”
Background
Community pharmacies are the first point of contact for most people seeking treatment for minor illnesses globally. In recent years, the role of community pharmacists has evolved, and they play a significant role in the delivery of public health interventions (PHIs) aimed at health promotion and prevention such as smoking cessation services, weight management services, HIV prevention, and vaccination. This review aims to explore the evidence on the factors that influence community pharmacists to take up the role of delivery of such interventions.
Methods
Three electronic databases namely, Embase (1947-December 2023), Medline (1975-December 2023), and Scopus (1823-December 2023) were searched for relevant literature from the inception of the database to December 2023. Reference lists of included articles were also searched for relevant articles. A total of 22 articles were included in the review based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were analyzed and synthesized using a thematic approach to identify the factors that influence the community pharmacist’s decision to take up the role of PHI delivery. Reporting of the findings was done according to the PRISMA checklist.
Findings
The search identified 10,927 articles of which 22 were included in the review. The main factors that drive the delivery of PHIs by community pharmacists were identified as; training and continuous education, remuneration and collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Other factors included structural and workflow adjustments and support from the government and regulatory bodies.
Conclusions
Evidence from this review indicates that the decision to expand the scope of practice of community pharmacists is influenced by various factors. Incorporating these factors into the design of policies and public health programs is critical for the successful integration of community pharmacists in the delivery of broader public health to meet the rising demand for health care across health systems.
BackgroundCommunity pharmacies are the first point of contact for most people seeking treatment for minor illnesses in Low– and middle-income countries (LMICs). In recent years, the role of community pharmacists has evolved, and they play a significant role in the delivery of public health interventions (PHIs) aimed at health promotion and prevention such as smoking cessation services, weight management services, HIV prevention, and vaccination. This review aims to explore the evidence on the factors that influence community pharmacists to take up the role of delivery of these interventions.MethodsThree electronic databases namely, Embase, Medline, and Scopus were searched for relevant literature from the inception of the database to December 2023. Reference lists of included articles were also searched for relevant articles. A total of 22 articles were included in the review based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were analyzed and synthesized using a thematic approach to identify the factors that influence the community pharmacist’s decision to take up the role of PHI delivery. Reporting of the findings was done according to the PRISMA checklist.FindingsThe search identified 10,927 articles of which 22 were included in the review. The main factors that drive the delivery of PHIs by community pharmacists were identified as; training and continuous education, remuneration and collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Other factors included structural and workflow adjustments and support from the government and regulatory bodies.ConclusionsEvidence from this review indicates that the decision to expand the scope of practice of community pharmacists is influenced by various factors. Incorporating these factors into the design of policies and public health programs is critical for the successful integration of community pharmacists in the delivery of broader public health to meet the rising demand for health care across health systems.
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