Pharmacist workforce evolvements in community practice

Abstract

Community pharmacy could be considered to lie within the heart of primary healthcare since pharmacists are often the first point of contact in the management of diseases. The aim of this study was to understand pharmacy workforce evolvements through consumer and community pharmacist perspectives and to elaborate on suggestions for advancements in community pharmacy practice. Two separate self-administered questionnaires were developed and validated: one directed to community pharmacists and a second to the public. Both questionnaires were distributed over social media by convenience sampling. In-person distribution in community pharmacies was also undertaken for the pharmacist questionnaire. A statistical and thematic analysis were carried out to extrapolate community pharmacy innovations. The main outcome measures include pharmacist and consumer impression of community pharmacy practice. Three hundred and one responses from consumers were received (43% 18 to 30 years, 76% females). The majority (57%) were highly satisfied with the service provided whilst 17% of respondents felt that there is a need for improvement in the service provided by the pharmacist. For community pharmacists, 103 responses were received (72% were females, 26% had < 5 years of experience, 68% were locums). Pharmacists (97%) who responded to the questionnaire felt that they held more responsibility than that perceived by the public and 59% felt that consumers' impressions of pharmacists were positive. A positive statistical association was found between consumers’ relationship with pharmacists and the trust consumers put into pharmacists’ advice. Seven themes were generated from pharmacists’ and consumers’ responses. The three most occurring themes were rooted in one key element: the pharmacist-client relationship, which ultimately instilled both satisfaction and flaws into the profession. With consumers being at the crux of the community pharmacist’s profession, innovation can only take place by taking both consumers’ and pharmacists’ views into account. Steps for emancipation include strengthening the public’s perspective of the pharmacist and reinforcing their professional relationship.