Primary Care Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
BMC Prim Care. 2024 Jun 6;25(1):201. doi: 10.1186/s12875-024-02457-7.
There is limited research examining the views of general practice pharmacists (GPPs) on their role and their impact in general practice. The aim of this study was to explore GPPs' views regarding this role and its potential impact within general practice in Northern Ireland (NI).
A paper-based self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 319 general practices in NI in 2022, directed to the GPP who spent most time at the practice. A variety of closed and open questions were included in six sections. Responses to closed questions were analysed descriptively whilst open question responses were analysed using content analysis. To ascertain associations between variables (e.g. GPP prescribing status, working arrangements and aspects of collaboration with GPPs), Fisher's exact test was employed with an a priori significance level of p < 0.05.
155 responses were received equating to a response rate of 48.5%. Most participants (72.3%) were female, independent prescribers (71%), and 64.5% were currently using their independent prescriber qualification. Services that were provided by most GPPs were medication reconciliation (99.4%) and medication reviews (97.4%). The most common method of communication between GPPs and general practitioners (GPs) was face-to-face (89.0%). Telephone was the most common method of communication between GPPs, community pharmacists (97.4%) and patients (98.7%). Most GPPs (> 80%) showed positive attitudes towards collaboration with GPs and those who worked in multiple practices were more likely to agree with the Attitudes Towards Collaboration Instrument for pharmacists (ATCI-P) statements compared to those who worked in a single practice (p < 0.05). Less than 40% (36.8%) of GPPs agreed that patients were aware of the role they provided. The majority of GPPs (80.6%) expressed positive views on their impact on primary care. Analysis of the free-text comments revealed the need for more GPP patient-facing activities, GPP-specific training, and promotion of the GPP role.
The findings indicated that GPPs had largely positive views about their role and their impact on primary care. The results may be helpful for practices and service commissioners. Further research is necessary to explore the perspectives of patients regarding the role of the GPP and to enhance patients' awareness of the GPP.
目前针对全科药剂师（GPP）对其角色的看法及其对全科实践的影响的研究有限。本研究旨在探讨北爱尔兰（NI）GPP 对其在全科实践中的角色及其潜在影响的看法。
2022 年，向 NI 319 家全科诊所邮寄了一份纸质自填式问卷，针对在诊所工作时间最长的 GPP。问卷共分为六个部分，包括多种封闭式和开放式问题。对封闭式问题的回答进行描述性分析，对开放式问题的回答进行内容分析。为了确定变量之间的关联（例如 GPP 处方状态、工作安排和与 GPP 合作的各个方面），采用 Fisher 精确检验，事先设定显著性水平为 p<0.05。
共收到 155 份回复，回复率为 48.5%。大多数参与者（72.3%）为女性，独立处方者（71%），64.5%目前正在使用其独立处方资格。大多数 GPP 提供的服务是药物重整（99.4%）和药物审查（97.4%）。GPP 和全科医生（GP）之间最常见的沟通方式是面对面（89.0%）。电话是 GPP 与社区药剂师（97.4%）和患者（98.7%）之间最常见的沟通方式。大多数 GPP 对与 GP 合作持积极态度（>80%），与在单一诊所工作的 GPP 相比，在多个诊所工作的 GPP 更有可能同意药剂师合作态度量表（ATCI-P）的陈述（p<0.05）。不到 40%（36.8%）的 GPP 认为患者了解他们提供的角色。大多数 GPP（80.6%）对他们对初级保健的影响持积极看法。对自由文本评论的分析表明，需要开展更多针对 GPP 患者的活动、GPP 特定培训，并推广 GPP 角色。
研究结果表明，GPP 对其角色及其对初级保健的影响基本持积极态度。研究结果可能对实践和服务委员会有所帮助。需要进一步研究来探讨患者对 GPP 角色的看法，并提高患者对 GPP 的认识。
