Pharmacists’ perspectives on collaborating with community health workers in diabetes care

Abstract

Objective To qualitatively assess pharmacists’ perspectives on the barriers and facilitators of collaborating with community health workers (CHWs) when caring for patients with diabetes. Methods Eight pharmacists were invited to participate in a focus group. All pharmacists had worked with CHWs for 12 months as part of a larger study. Seven pharmacists participated in a single focus group while one participated in an individual interview. Data were analyzed by two investigators to identify common themes. Results Perceived barriers included issues associated with maintaining patient confidentiality, CHW and pharmacists comfort, uncertainty of CHW roles, and inconsistent communication between the pharmacists and CHWs. However, pharmacists reported that the care model fostered improvement in patient-pharmacist communication, patient adherence, and in the assessment of the patients’ overall condition. Conclusions Pharmacists expressed positive attitudes and experiences related to working with CHWs in caring for a minority patient population with poorly controlled diabetes. Most felt that CHWs acted as facilitators and aided them in producing positive clinical outcomes by addressing the multiple psychosocial and contextual dimensions of patient health. Developing approaches for more frequent and effective communication between the pharmacist and CHW was the primary perceived challenge.

Community Health Workers Supporting Clinical Pharmacists in Diabetes Management: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The pharmacist/CHW teams were implemented in several sites within a single academic medical center, and the effectiveness of the pharmacist/CHW team likely varied. Pharmacist and CHW communication about patient care was challenging outside of pharmacist encounters, despite the fact that the pharmacists reported positive experiences working with CHWs and felt that patients likely benefited from their involvement . Work‐related scheduling conflicts prevented consistent and ongoing collaboration.…”

“…Pharmacist and CHW communication about patient care was challenging outside of pharmacist encounters, despite the fact that the pharmacists reported positive experiences working with CHWs and felt that patients likely benefited from their involvement. 39 Work-related scheduling conflicts prevented consistent and ongoing collaboration. The "intervention dose" provided by the CHW and pharmacist varied across patients, as is common in similar studies.…”

Community Pharmacists’ Perceptions of Patient Care Services within an Enhanced Service Network

“…It can clarify misconceptions about chronic disease management and improve medication adherence due to increased patient health literacy [ 48 , 49 ]. Wellness programs designed for chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension can improve the results of medication therapy [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ].…”

Conceptually-Theoretical Justification and Updating of the Preventive Approach in the Implementation of a Pharmacist’s Information Consultancy Services in the Public Health System

“…Касавиным «междисциплинарное (не предполагающее при этом жестких границ каждой вовлеченной дисциплины) взаимодействие есть естественное состояние науки, предельным случаем которого являются относительно строгие дисциплинарные структуры, границы которых задаются не столько системами знания, сколько институциональными формами» [45]. Актуальность, эффективность, многогранность и значимость междисциплинарного взаимодействия для оптимизации медицинской и фармацевтической помощи подтверждена и неоднократно доказана учеными в экспериментальных исследованиях [44,[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]. Методический подход к профессиональной реализации фармацевтического патронажа заключается в медико-фармацевтическом сопровождении, обучении, контроле и управлении процессом адаптации человека к физиологическим особенностям и (или) болезни, возможностью выполнения им привычных функций, соответствующих его социально-экономическому положению с целью сохранения качества жизни, связанного со здоровьем (Health -related quality of life).…”