Stakeholder perspectives about general practice pharmacists in the Australian Capital Territory: a qualitative pilot study
Louise S. Deeks A E , Sam Kosari A , Mark Naunton A , Gabrielle Cooper A , Julie Porritt B , Rachel Davey C , Paresh Dawda C , John Goss C and Gregory Kyle DA Discipline of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
B Capital Health Network, PO Box 9, Deakin West, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
C Centre for Research & Action in Public Health, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, Bruce, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
D Discipline of Pharmacy, School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Qld 4000, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: louise.deeks@canberra.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 24(3) 263-272 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY17086
Submitted: 17 June 2017 Accepted: 14 February 2018 Published: 28 May 2018
Abstract
Previous studies have found that integrating non-dispensing pharmacists in general practice may improve patient safety, improve patient outcomes, deliver health system efficiencies and generate savings. However, the employment of pharmacists in general practice is not common in Australia. A naturalistic study was conducted in the Australian Capital Territory with three general practices, each employing a part-time pharmacist for 12 months. This study reports on stakeholder perspectives of the benefits, barriers and enablers for integrating pharmacists into general practice. Patients, practice staff and community pharmacists that had interacted with a practice pharmacist were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Patient questionnaire respondents (n = 44) reported that a practice pharmacist was beneficial and wanted to see this continue. Practice pharmacists were also perceived beneficial by primary healthcare employees surveyed (n = 42). Opinions were further explored by individual semi-structured interviews (n = 20). The qualitative data explored five themes: perception of the practice pharmacist, collaboration with doctors, pharmacist roles, sustainability and community pharmacy aspects. Patients welcomed improved understanding about their medication, whereas general practice staff appreciated pharmaceutical advice about patients with chronic conditions. Participants discussed options to fund practice pharmacists longer term, which was identified as the main barrier to widespread roll out.
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