GPs' perceptions of pharmacists working in general practices : A mixed methods survey study

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists are increasingly incorporated into general practice teams globally and have been shown to positively impact patient outcomes. However, little research to date has focused on determining general practitioners' (GPs') perceptions of practice-based pharmacist roles in countries yet to establish such roles.

OBJECTIVES: To explore GPs' perceptions towards integrating pharmacists into practices and determine if any significant associations were present between GPs' perceptions and their demographic characteristics.

METHODS: In June 2022, a survey was disseminated to GPs in Ireland via post (n = 500 in Munster region), Twitter, WhatsApp, and an online GP support and education network. Quantitative data were captured through multiple option and Likert-scale questions and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data were captured via free-text boxes, with the open comments analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 152 valid responses were received (24.6% response to postal survey). Overall, GPs welcomed the role of practice-based pharmacists and perceived that they would increase patient safety. Most agreed with practice pharmacists providing medicine information (98%) vs. 23% agreeing with practice pharmacists prescribing independently. Most agreed they would partake in a practice pharmacist pilot (78.6%). The free-text comments described current pressures in general practice, existing relationships with pharmacists, funding and governance strategies, potential roles for pharmacists in general practice, and anticipated outcomes of such roles.

CONCLUSION: This study provides a deeper understanding of GPs' perceptions of integrating pharmacists into practices and the demographic characteristics associated with different perceptions, which may help better inform future initiatives to integrate pharmacists into practices.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:29

Enthalten in:

The European journal of general practice - 29(2023), 1 vom: 07. Dez., Seite 2273841

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Hurley, Eoin [VerfasserIn]
Foley, Tony [VerfasserIn]
Walsh, Elaine [VerfasserIn]
Byrne, Stephen [VerfasserIn]
Dalton, Kieran [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

General practice
General practitioners
Journal Article
Pharmacist
Primary health care
Survey

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 07.11.2023

Date Revised 09.11.2023

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1080/13814788.2023.2273841

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM364215992