Pharmacist-led adherence support in general practice: a qualitative interview study of adults with asthma

Objectives The National Health Service (NHS) in England recently introduced general practice pharmacists (GPPs) to provide medication-focused support to both patients and the general practice team. This healthcare model may benefit people with asthma, who currently receive suboptimal care and demons...

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Main Authors: Amy Hai Yan Chan, Robert Horne, Marissa Ayano Mes, Caroline Brigitte Katzer, Vari Wileman, Stephanie Jane Caroline Taylor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2019-11-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/11/e032084.full
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author Amy Hai Yan Chan
Robert Horne
Marissa Ayano Mes
Caroline Brigitte Katzer
Vari Wileman
Stephanie Jane Caroline Taylor
author_facet Amy Hai Yan Chan
Robert Horne
Marissa Ayano Mes
Caroline Brigitte Katzer
Vari Wileman
Stephanie Jane Caroline Taylor
author_sort Amy Hai Yan Chan
collection DOAJ
description Objectives The National Health Service (NHS) in England recently introduced general practice pharmacists (GPPs) to provide medication-focused support to both patients and the general practice team. This healthcare model may benefit people with asthma, who currently receive suboptimal care and demonstrate low medication adherence. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of adults with asthma on the potential for pharmacist-led adherence support delivered in general practice, with a focus on how these perspectives are formed.Design and setting The study was conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) utilising a qualitative interview methodology. Participants were invited to partake in a telephone-based semistructured interview, followed by an online questionnaire for demographic details and asthma history. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis.Participants Participants (n=17) were adults with asthma in the UK with a prescription for an inhaled corticosteroid. Participants did not have previous experience with GPPs and were asked to provide their views on a proposed GPP-led service.Results Participant perspectives of GPPs were determined by trust in pharmacists, perceived gaps in asthma care and the perceived strain on the NHS. Trust was based on pharmacists’ perceived clinical competency, established over time, and gauged through a ‘benchmarking’ process. GPP’s fit in current asthma care was assessed based on potential role overlap with other healthcare professionals, continuity of care and medication-related support needs. Participants navigated the NHS based on a perceived hierarchy of healthcare professionals (general practitioners on top, nurses, then pharmacists), and this influenced their perspectives of GPPs.Conclusion While the GPP scheme shows promise based on the perspectives of people with asthma, the identified barriers to optimal patient engagement and service implementation will need to be addressed for the service to be effective.
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spelling doaj-art-96809cb2f1954a558426fbb0a5f1fcb82025-08-20T02:06:53ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552019-11-0191110.1136/bmjopen-2019-032084Pharmacist-led adherence support in general practice: a qualitative interview study of adults with asthmaAmy Hai Yan Chan0Robert Horne1Marissa Ayano Mes2Caroline Brigitte Katzer3Vari Wileman4Stephanie Jane Caroline Taylor5Pharmacy Department, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New ZealandAsthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Edinburgh, UK1 Centre for Behavioural Medicine, Research Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK1 Centre for Behavioural Medicine, Research Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK1King’s College London, London, UK2 Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UKObjectives The National Health Service (NHS) in England recently introduced general practice pharmacists (GPPs) to provide medication-focused support to both patients and the general practice team. This healthcare model may benefit people with asthma, who currently receive suboptimal care and demonstrate low medication adherence. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of adults with asthma on the potential for pharmacist-led adherence support delivered in general practice, with a focus on how these perspectives are formed.Design and setting The study was conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) utilising a qualitative interview methodology. Participants were invited to partake in a telephone-based semistructured interview, followed by an online questionnaire for demographic details and asthma history. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis.Participants Participants (n=17) were adults with asthma in the UK with a prescription for an inhaled corticosteroid. Participants did not have previous experience with GPPs and were asked to provide their views on a proposed GPP-led service.Results Participant perspectives of GPPs were determined by trust in pharmacists, perceived gaps in asthma care and the perceived strain on the NHS. Trust was based on pharmacists’ perceived clinical competency, established over time, and gauged through a ‘benchmarking’ process. GPP’s fit in current asthma care was assessed based on potential role overlap with other healthcare professionals, continuity of care and medication-related support needs. Participants navigated the NHS based on a perceived hierarchy of healthcare professionals (general practitioners on top, nurses, then pharmacists), and this influenced their perspectives of GPPs.Conclusion While the GPP scheme shows promise based on the perspectives of people with asthma, the identified barriers to optimal patient engagement and service implementation will need to be addressed for the service to be effective.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/11/e032084.full
spellingShingle Amy Hai Yan Chan
Robert Horne
Marissa Ayano Mes
Caroline Brigitte Katzer
Vari Wileman
Stephanie Jane Caroline Taylor
Pharmacist-led adherence support in general practice: a qualitative interview study of adults with asthma
BMJ Open
title Pharmacist-led adherence support in general practice: a qualitative interview study of adults with asthma
title_full Pharmacist-led adherence support in general practice: a qualitative interview study of adults with asthma
title_fullStr Pharmacist-led adherence support in general practice: a qualitative interview study of adults with asthma
title_full_unstemmed Pharmacist-led adherence support in general practice: a qualitative interview study of adults with asthma
title_short Pharmacist-led adherence support in general practice: a qualitative interview study of adults with asthma
title_sort pharmacist led adherence support in general practice a qualitative interview study of adults with asthma
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/11/e032084.full
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