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Research in Social & Administrative... Oct 2021Community pharmacies increasingly offer professional pharmacy services, whose implementation is often influenced by facilitating or obstructive implementation factors.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Community pharmacies increasingly offer professional pharmacy services, whose implementation is often influenced by facilitating or obstructive implementation factors. The occurrence and composition of implementation factors vary among different services with discrete characteristics and complexity of the intervention, making it difficult to foresee potential barriers in implementation.
OBJECTIVE(S)
This paper investigates potential associations between intervention complexity and occurring implementation factors.
METHODS
A systematic literature search on the implementation factors and intervention complexity of professional pharmacy services in the community setting was carried out in electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) throughout December 2018. Implementation factors were extracted from semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and surveys with community pharmacists and categorized using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The complexity of each service was assessed using the following complexity parameters: (I) number of involved healthcare professions, (II) number of service components such as recruiting of patients, screening intervention, and follow-up, (III) frequency of the service, (IV) expenditure of time per patient (encounter), and (V) workflow distortion, i.e. booking appointments for intervention with the patient. Finally, the association between implementation factors and intervention complexity was analyzed by quantifying implementation factors and by relating them to specific intervention characteristics using Fisher's exact test.
RESULTS
15 studies covering a broad spectrum of professional pharmacy services were included. There was a trend that in services with higher complexity more implementation factors occurred (p = 0.094). Single key complexity parameters can trigger specific implementation factors. For instance, general practitioner and pharmacy technician involvement were significantly associated with interprofessional communication and leadership engagement, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Key implementation factors and associated complexity parameters seem to be of similar or more importance than the total number of implementation factors with regard to successful implementation. By assessing various complexity parameters of an intervention, potential key barriers could be identified and subsequently addressed prior to implementation.
Topics: Community Pharmacy Services; General Practitioners; Humans; Pharmacies; Pharmacists; Pharmacy Technicians; Professional Role
PubMed: 33579611
DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.01.013 -
Cureus Mar 2024Hospital pharmacies are integral to the healthcare system, and evaluating the factors influencing their efficiency and service standards is imperative. This analysis... (Review)
Review
Hospital pharmacies are integral to the healthcare system, and evaluating the factors influencing their efficiency and service standards is imperative. This analysis offers global insights to assist in developing strategies for future enhancements. The objective is to identify the optimal Lean Six Sigma methodologies to improve workflow and quality of hospital pharmacy services. A strategic search, aligned with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, encompassed an extensive range of academic databases, including Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and other sources for relevant studies published from 2009 to 2023. The focus was on management tactics and those examining outcomes, prioritizing publications reflecting pharmacy operations management's state. The quality of the selected articles was assessed, and the results were combined and analyzed. The search yielded 1,447 studies, of which 73 met the inclusion criteria. The systematic review found a low to moderate overall risk of bias. The number of publications rose during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Among studies, research output in the United States of America represented 26% of the total. Other countries such as Indonesia, Spain, Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom also made significant contributions. Each country accounted for 12%, 8%, 7%, 5%, 5%, 5%, and 5%, respectively. The pharmacy journals led with 26 publications, and healthcare/medical with 14. The quality category came next with 12 articles, while seven journals represented engineering. Studies used empirical and observational methods, focusing on practice quality enhancement. The process control plan had 26 instances, and the define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC) was identified 13 times. The sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain (5S) ranked third, totaling seven occurrences. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and root cause analysis were moderately utilized, with six and four instances, respectively. Poka-Yoke (mistake-proofing measures) and value stream mapping were each counted three times. Quality improvement and workflow optimization dominated managerial strategies in 22 (30.14%) studies each, followed by technology integration in 15 (20.55%). Cost, patient care, and staffing each featured in three (4.11%) studies, while two (2.74%) focused on inventory management. One (1.37%) study each highlighted continuing education, collaboration, and policy changes. Analysis of the 73 studies on Lean and Six Sigma in hospital pharmacy operations showed significant impacts, with 26% of studies reporting decreased medication turnaround time, 15% showing process efficiency improvements, and 11% each for enhanced inventory management and bottleneck/failure mode reduction. Additionally, 9% of studies observed decreased medication errors, 8% noted increased satisfaction and cost savings, 6% identified enhancements in clinical activities, 3% improved prescription accuracy, 2% reduced workflow interruptions, and 1% reported increased knowledge. Also, this study has identified key strategies for service delivery improvement and the importance of quality practices and lean leadership. To the best of the author's knowledge, this research is believed to be the first in-depth analysis of Lean and Six Sigma in the hospital pharmacy domain, spanning 15 years from 2009 to 2023.
PubMed: 38681323
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57176 -
Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2022As the last step in the care pathway, pharmacies can significantly impact a patient's medication adherence and the success of treatment. The potential impact of... (Review)
Review
As the last step in the care pathway, pharmacies can significantly impact a patient's medication adherence and the success of treatment. The potential impact of patient's pharmacy choice on their medication adherence has yet to be established. This study aims to review the impact a pharmacies ownership model, either independent or chain, has on its users' medication adherence. As a generalisation, independent pharmacies offer a more personal service and chain pharmacies offer medications at lower prices. A keyword search of EMBASE and MEDLINE databases in March 2022 identified 410 studies, of which 5 were deemed to meet our inclusion criteria. The studies mostly took place in North America, measured medication adherence using pharmacy records over a 12-month period. This review was unable to substantiate a difference in the rate of medication adherence between the users of independent and chain pharmacies. However, those with a lower income, greater medication burden, and increased age appeared to use an independent pharmacy more than a chain pharmacy and to have greater medication adherence when doing so. Establishing the differences in service provision between types of pharmacies and why people choose a pharmacy to frequent should be a focus of future research.
PubMed: 36287445
DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy10050124 -
Research in Social & Administrative... Nov 2022Turnover is an important issue in all healthcare professions including pharmacy practice settings. A high turnover rate of pharmacists, not only has negative financial... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Turnover is an important issue in all healthcare professions including pharmacy practice settings. A high turnover rate of pharmacists, not only has negative financial impact, but also reduces quality of care and patient safety. The high turnover also increases workload and job stress which can increase job errors and decrease job efficiency and performance in pharmacy practices.
OBJECTIVES
To systematically review the extent of pharmacists' turnover and their intention to leave their jobs or the pharmacy profession.
METHODS
An electronic search was performed from database inception to December 19, 2020 using the following 6 databases; PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, ERIC, and ERIC-EBSCO. Articles were included if they were relevant to reports of pharmacist turnover or turnover intention. Only research studies were included, but not editorials, letters, or review articles.
RESULTS
Twenty-eight studies were contained within this systematic review. Using the QualSyst assessment tool to assess the included article qualities, all studies demonstrated good quality with quality assessment score of 0.75. Fifteen studies (53.6%) were conducted from the US, 3 studies (10.7%) from Taiwan, 2 studies (7.1%) from the UK, and the remaining studies from Lithuania, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Jamaica. The turnover of the pharmacists from their jobs ranged from 8.6 to 17%, and the turnover from the pharmacy profession was in the range of 6-9%. The turnover intention of the pharmacists in their jobs was from 13% to 61.2%, and the turnover intention in the pharmacy profession was 6.5%-18.8%. Hospital pharmacists had significantly higher turnover intentions than community ones. The turnover intention rates of both hospital and community pharmacists have gradually increased over time in both European countries and Asian countries.
CONCLUSION
Based on the included articles, pharmacists' turnover rate appeared to increase over time. However, based on the heterogeneity of studies, further research is warranted to confirm this and to help to identify the potential causes of turnover intention since intention was related to behavior.
Topics: Humans; Intention; Job Satisfaction; Pharmaceutical Services; Pharmacies; Pharmacists
PubMed: 35691797
DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.05.014 -
Perspectives in Public Health Mar 2022This systematic review aimed to provide new insights into how pharmacy spaces, or the , are experienced by pharmacy service users and staff. The review sought to...
AIM
This systematic review aimed to provide new insights into how pharmacy spaces, or the , are experienced by pharmacy service users and staff. The review sought to identify environmental factors which may influence service users' and staff participation in community-based pharmacy health services.
METHOD
Ten databases were searched for English language publications, using a combination of search terms relating to pharmacy service users and staff; pharmacy spaces; and health and social care outcomes. Data from the final selected studies were extracted, thematically analysed using a narrative approach and the quality of each study assessed using the Integrated quality Criteria for the Review of Multiple Study designs (ICROMS).
RESULTS
80 articles reporting 80 studies published between 1994 and 2020 were identified; they were from 28 countries, involving around 3234 community pharmacies, 13,615 pharmacy service users, 5056 pharmacists and 78 pharmacy health staff. Most studies (94%) met the ICROMS minimum score, and half did not meet the mandatory quality criteria. Four themes likely to influence service users' and staff experiences of pharmacy health services were identified: (1) privacy; (2) experience of the physical environment; (3) professional image; and (4) risk of error.
CONCLUSION
To optimise the delivery and experience of pharmacy health services, these spaces should be made more engaging. Future applied research could focus on optimising inclusive pharmacy design features.
Topics: Community Pharmacy Services; Humans; Pharmacies; Pharmacists
PubMed: 35274562
DOI: 10.1177/17579139221080608 -
BMJ Open Aug 2017Lay people or non-pharmacy health workers with training could dispense antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-constrained countries, freeing up time for pharmacists to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
Lay people or non-pharmacy health workers with training could dispense antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-constrained countries, freeing up time for pharmacists to focus on more technical tasks. We assessed the effectiveness of such task-shifting in low-income and middle-income countries.
METHOD
We conducted comprehensive searches of peer-reviewed and grey literature. Two authors independently screened search outputs, selected controlled trials, extracted data and resolved discrepancies by consensus. We performed random-effects meta-analysis and assessed certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
RESULTS
Three studies with 1993 participants met the inclusion criteria, including two cluster trials conducted in Kenya and Uganda and an individually randomised trial conducted in Brazil. We found very low certainty evidence regarding mortality due to the low number of events. Therefore, we are uncertain whether there is a true increase in mortality as the effect size suggests, or a reduction in mortality between pharmacy and non-pharmacy models of dispensing ART (risk ratio (RR) 1.86, 95% CI 0.44 to 7.95, n=1993, three trials, very low certainty evidence). There may be no differences between pharmacy and non-pharmacy models of dispensing ART on virological failure (risk ratio (RR) 0.92, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.15, n=1993, three trials, low certainty evidence) and loss to follow-up (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.91, n=1993. three trials, low certainty evidence). We found some evidence that costs may be reduced for the patient and health system when task-shifting is undertaken.
CONCLUSIONS
The low certainty regarding the evidence implies a high likelihood that further research may find the effects of the intervention to be substantially different from our findings. If resource-constrained countries decide to shift ART dispensing and distribution from pharmacy to non-pharmacy personnel, this should be accompanied by robust monitoring and impact evaluation.
Topics: Anti-Retroviral Agents; Developing Countries; HIV Infections; Humans; Medication Adherence; Pharmacies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Workforce
PubMed: 28851770
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015072 -
Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and... Dec 2019Medication reconciliation is recommended to be performed at every transition of medical care to prevent medication errors or adverse drug events. This study investigated... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE
Medication reconciliation is recommended to be performed at every transition of medical care to prevent medication errors or adverse drug events. This study investigated the impact of pharmacy-led medication reconciliation on medication discrepancies and potential adverse drug events in the ED to assess the benefits of pharmacy services.
METHODS
The systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. The PubMed, Ovid Embase and Cochrane library databases were searched up from inception to 1 July 2018. Studies comparing the effectiveness of the medication reconciliation service performed by pharmacy personnel to usual care (nurses or physicians) in the ED were included. Duplicated studies, non-clinical studies, studies with ineligible comparators or study designs were excluded.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Eleven studies were eligible for qualitative analysis, and 8 studies were included in meta-analysis. Pharmacy-led medication reconciliation substantially reduced medication discrepancies in the ED. The most common medication discrepancies included medication omission and incorrect/omitted dose or frequency. Unlike usual care, pharmacy-led medication reconciliation significantly reduced the proportion of patients with medication discrepancies by 68% (response rate 0.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19-0.53, P < .0001) and the number of medication discrepancy events by 88% (response rate 0.12; 95% CI 0.06-0.26, P < .00001). Intervention decreased the number of discrepancies per patient by 3.08 (mean difference -3.08; 95% CI: -4.76 to -1.39, P = .0003). Subgroup analysis revealed no differences between pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in medication reconciliation performance pertaining to medication discrepancies. The patients with several comorbidities or those administered numerous medications received marked benefits related to reduced medication discrepancies from pharmacy-led medication reconciliation. Moreover, a randomized controlled trial revealed decreased risk of potential adverse drug events by pharmacy-led medication reconciliation in patients receiving care in the ED.
WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION
Pharmacy-led medication reconciliation significantly decreased the number of medication discrepancies. However, only one study investigated potential adverse drug events in patients receiving care in the ED. Therefore, further studies investigating the direct clinical impact of decreased medication discrepancies are required.
Topics: Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Medication Errors; Medication Reconciliation; Pharmacies; Pharmacists; Pharmacy Service, Hospital
PubMed: 31436877
DOI: 10.1111/jcpt.13019 -
A systematic review of community pharmacy interventions to improve peri- and post-menopausal health.Post Reproductive Health Mar 2024Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation due to loss of ovarian follicular function. Symptoms include mood disorders, vaginal atrophy, hot flashes... (Review)
Review
Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation due to loss of ovarian follicular function. Symptoms include mood disorders, vaginal atrophy, hot flashes and night sweats and can emerge during a gradual transition period called perimenopause. Community pharmacies are well placed to deliver a wide range of healthcare services, including supporting and educating menopausal women; however, to date, no systematic review has assessed the effectiveness of community pharmacy-led interventions in improving peri- and post-menopausal health. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines we evaluated community pharmacy-led interventions that targeted women in peri- or post-menopause. Electronic searches in EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were conducted on 13th February 2023. Additionally, we examined the included studies references and citation lists using Google Scholar. A total of 915 articles were identified and screened against the inclusion criteria. Two studies were included; one identified post-menopausal women at risk of developing osteoporosis (OP), and one evaluated the outcomes of a community pharmacy-based menopause education programme. Study one found 11 (11%) post-menopausal women were at risk of developing OP based on quantitative ultrasound screening offered by community pharmacists and referred to their physician. Study two reported that women had access to adequate personalised menopause counselling and increased knowledge of menopause topics because of the educational programme within community pharmacies. Both studies were of low quality. The lack of included studies reflects the need for high-quality research to determine whether community pharmacy-led interventions are feasible, effective and acceptable, to improve health outcomes of peri- or post-menopausal women.
Topics: Female; Humans; Postmenopause; Pharmacies; Menopause; Hot Flashes; Perimenopause
PubMed: 38185857
DOI: 10.1177/20533691231223681 -
Health & Social Care in the Community Sep 2016The development of health and healthcare systems in South-East Asia has influenced the practice of community pharmacy. Over the years, community pharmacy in the region... (Review)
Review
The development of health and healthcare systems in South-East Asia has influenced the practice of community pharmacy. Over the years, community pharmacy in the region has striven to expand services beyond dispensing to encompass more involvement in public health issues. Searches were conducted in Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PubMed for articles published between January 2000 and December 2014, with 21 studies in five countries meeting the inclusion criteria. The findings showed increasing interest in research into the delivery of pharmacy services and public health initiatives. Overall, the review found that provision of some health services in pharmacies was common; however, most public health initiatives appeared to be poorly implemented, had limited evidence and were not demonstrated to be sustainable across the sector. This indicates that the practice of community pharmacy in the region has not significantly changed over the past 14 years with respect to the scope and quality of pharmacy services provided, and fundamental policy changes are necessary to improve this situation.
Topics: Delivery of Health Care; Health Services; Humans; Pharmacies; Public Health; Research
PubMed: 26427905
DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12289