Strategies to increase the pharmacist workforce in rural and remote Australia: a scoping review

Obamiro, Kehinde; Tesfaye, Wubshet; Barnett, Tony

doi:10.22605/rrh5741

Cited by 10 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…Despite geographic, financial, and cultural diversities between countries, there remains a maldistribution and undersupply of the pharmacist workforce in rural and remote areas in many parts of the world [ 2 , 16 ]. Due to this maldistribution, government initiatives have been established to encourage recruitment and retention of rural pharmacists.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Current research and initiatives tend to focus on undergraduate pharmacy students with few studies targeting the post-registration pharmacist workforce. This limits our understanding of whether the exposure to rural practice from initiatives aimed at registered pharmacists leads to long-term impacts on the recruitment and retention of pharmacists in rural settings [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Beyond current empirical studies, two literature reviews have been undertaken to understand these challenges and what drives healthcare practitioners, including pharmacists, to consider rural practice and drivers of rural recruitment and retention [ 2 , 16 ]. First, a systematic review of the global pharmacist workforce was undertaken to identify the main factors affecting pharmacist retention, regardless of the setting.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These included job satisfaction, working conditions, role and responsibilities, policies, training and workload [ 16 ]. Second, a scoping review conducted by Obamiro and colleagues [ 2 ] focussed on identifying defined strategies to increase the rural and remote pharmacist workforce, or factors associated with the retention of pharmacists in rural or remote areas. Although insightful, the evidence was limited to Australian contexts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although insightful, the evidence was limited to Australian contexts. In addition, the retention factors identified by Obamiro et al [ 2 ] were based on five studies only, and the overall findings highlighted personal, community, and workplace factors were important in impacting recruitment, retention, and the perception of pharmacist in being a good fit within rural contexts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors contributing to the recruitment and retention of rural pharmacist workforce: a systematic review

Terry

Phan

Peck

et al. 2021

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background Recruiting and retaining medical, nursing, and allied health professionals in rural and remote areas is a worldwide challenge, compromising continuity of care and population health outcomes in these locations. Specifically, pharmacists play an essential and accessible frontline healthcare role, and are often the first point of contact for health concerns. Despite several incentives, there remains a maldistribution and undersupply of pharmacists in rural and remote areas across many parts of the world. Although current systematic reviews have focussed on factors affecting pharmacists’ retention generally, literature specifically focused on rural pharmacist workforce in a global context remains limited. The aim of this systematic review is to identify factors associated with recruitment and retention of the pharmacist workforce in rural and remote settings. Better understanding of these contributors will inform more effective interventional strategies to resolve pharmacist workforce shortages. Methods A systematic search of primary studies was conducted in online databases, including Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO, and by hand-searching of reference lists. Eligible studies were identified based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria and methodological quality criteria, utilising the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) and Good Reporting of A Mixed Methods Study (GRAMMS) checklists. Results The final review included 13 studies, with quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research design. Study-specific factors associated with recruitment and retention of pharmacists in rural practice were identified and grouped into five main themes: geographic and family-related, economic and resources, scope of practice or skills development, the practice environment, and community and practice support factors. Conclusions The results provide critical insights into the complexities of rural recruitment and retention of pharmacists and confirms the need for flexible yet multifaceted responses to overcoming rural pharmacist workforce challenges. Overall, the results provide an opportunity for rural communities and health services to better identify key strengths and challenges unique to the rural and remote pharmacist workforce that may be augmented to guide more focussed recruitment and retention endeavours.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors contributing to the recruitment and retention of rural pharmacist workforce: a systematic review

Terry

Phan

Peck

et al. 2021

BMC Health Serv Res

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Sustaining rural pharmacy workforce understanding key attributes for enhanced retention and recruitment

Terry

Peck

Hills

et al. 2022

Australian J Rural Health

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Rural and remote pharmacists’ perspectives of grey nomads with diabetes travelling in Australia

De Bellis,

McCloud,

Giles

et al. 2024

Australian J Rural Health

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ObjectiveThe objective of the research was to explore rural and remote pharmacists’ experiences of encountering grey nomads with diabetes.DesignA qualitative Interpretive Description design was used to explore and capture the experiences of rural and remote pharmacists interacting with grey nomads who had diabetes. Data from the interviews were analysed thematically.SettingThe Pharmacy Guild of Australia was approached and through their membership rural and remote pharmacists were invited to participate in the research.ParticipantsNine rural and remote pharmacists who had encounters and provided services to grey nomads with diabetes responded to be interviewed.ResultsThe analysed findings established four major themes including: the influence of rural and remote locations on services; common problems encountered by the pharmacists; preparation for travel by grey nomads with diabetes; and pharmacists’ preparedness to support grey nomads with diabetes.ConclusionThe findings of this study identified that pharmacists needed remuneration for services provided to grey nomads with diabetes. Also, further development of the My Health record and telehealth to include pharmacists would be advantageous for grey nomads who have diabetes. Pharmacists stated there was a need for further education and a continuing professional development module specifically designed for pharmacists on diabetes self‐management that moved beyond medications. A pre‐travel checklist for grey nomads with diabetes travelling in rural and remote Australia would benefit all stakeholders through better preparation of travellers with diabetes to self‐manage, thereby reducing the demand for health services including pharmacies.

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Strategies to increase the pharmacist workforce in rural and remote Australia: a scoping review

Abstract: The study is a review of existing literature.

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Factors contributing to the recruitment and retention of rural pharmacist workforce: a systematic review

Factors contributing to the recruitment and retention of rural pharmacist workforce: a systematic review

Sustaining rural pharmacy workforce understanding key attributes for enhanced retention and recruitment

Rural and remote pharmacists’ perspectives of grey nomads with diabetes travelling in Australia

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