Inch Jackie, Notman Frances, Watson Margaret, Green David, Baird Robert, Ferguson James, Hind Caroline, McKinstry Brian, Strath Alison, Bond Christine
Centre of Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Int J Pharm Pract. 2017 Jun;25(3):210-219. doi: 10.1111/ijpp.12376.
Technology enables medical services to be provided to rural communities. This proof of concept study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of delivering community pharmacy services (CPS; including advice, sale of over-the-counter products and dispensing of prescriptions) by tele-technology (the Telepharmacy Robotic Supply Service (TPRSS)) to a rural population in Scotland.
Data collection included the following: postal surveys to local residents; focus groups/ interviews with pharmacists, other healthcare professionals (HCPs) and service users, at baseline and follow-up; TPRSS logs. Interviews/focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Descriptive statistics were reported for survey data.
Qualitative results: Pre-installation: residents expressed satisfaction with current pharmacy access. HCPs believed the TPRSS would improve pharmacy access and reduce pressure on GPs. Concerns included costs, confidentiality, patient safety and 'fear' of technology. Post-installation: residents and pharmacy staff were positive, finding the service easy to use. Quantitative results: Pre-installation: almost half the respondents received regular prescription medicines and a third used an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine at least monthly. More than 80% (124/156) reported they would use the TPRSS. There was low awareness of the minor ailment service (MAS; 38%; 59/156). Post-installation: prescription ordering and OTC medicine purchase were used most frequently; the video link was used infrequently. Reasons for non-use were lack of need (36%; 40/112) and linkage to only one pharmacy (31%; 35/112).
Community pharmacy services delivered remotely using tele-technology are feasible and acceptable. A larger study should be undertaken to confirm the potential of the TPRSS to reduce health inequalities in rural areas.
技术使农村社区能够获得医疗服务。本概念验证研究评估了通过远程技术（远程药房机器人供应服务（TPRSS））向苏格兰农村人口提供社区药房服务（CPS；包括咨询、非处方药销售和处方配药）的可行性和可接受性。
数据收集包括以下内容：对当地居民进行邮政调查；在基线和随访时对药剂师、其他医疗保健专业人员（HCP）和服务使用者进行焦点小组/访谈；TPRSS日志。访谈/焦点小组进行了录音、转录和主题分析。报告了调查数据的描述性统计结果。
定性结果：安装前：居民对当前的药房服务表示满意。医疗保健专业人员认为TPRSS将改善药房服务可及性并减轻全科医生的压力。担忧包括成本、保密性、患者安全以及对技术的“恐惧”。安装后：居民和药房工作人员持积极态度，认为该服务易于使用。定量结果：安装前：近一半的受访者定期接受处方药，三分之一的受访者至少每月使用一次非处方药（OTC）。超过80%（124/156）的受访者表示他们会使用TPRSS。对小病服务（MAS）的知晓率较低（38%；59/156）。安装后：最常使用的是处方订购和非处方药购买；视频链接使用较少。不使用的原因是不需要（36%；40/112）以及仅与一家药房有联系（31%；35/112）。
使用远程技术提供的社区药房服务是可行且可接受的。应进行更大规模的研究以确认TPRSS在减少农村地区健康不平等方面的潜力。
