Pharmacists’ role in diabetes management for persons with lived experience of homelessness in Canada: A qualitative study
IntroductionPersons with lived experience of homelessness face many challenges in managing diabetes, including purchasing and storing medications, procuring healthy food and accessing healthcare services. Prior studies have found that pharmacy-led interventions for diabetes improved A1C, and lowered...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcdhc.2022.1087751/full |
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| author | Breanna McSweeney Rachel B. Campbell Eshleen K. Grewal David J. T. Campbell David J. T. Campbell David J. T. Campbell |
| author_facet | Breanna McSweeney Rachel B. Campbell Eshleen K. Grewal David J. T. Campbell David J. T. Campbell David J. T. Campbell |
| author_sort | Breanna McSweeney |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPersons with lived experience of homelessness face many challenges in managing diabetes, including purchasing and storing medications, procuring healthy food and accessing healthcare services. Prior studies have found that pharmacy-led interventions for diabetes improved A1C, and lowered blood pressure and cholesterol in general populations. This study evaluated how select pharmacists in Canada have tailored their practices to serve persons with lived experiences of homelessness with diabetes.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative descriptive study using open-ended interviews with inner-city pharmacists in select Canadian municipalities (Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Ottawa). We used NVivo qualitative data analysis software to facilitate thematic analysis of the data, focusing on how pharmacists contributed to diabetes care for persons with lived experience of homelessness.ResultsThese pharmacists developed diabetes programs after discovering an unmet need in the population. Pharmacists have the unique ability to see patients frequently, allowing tailored education and hands-on assistance with diabetes management. These pharmacists provided extra-ordinary care like financial and housing resources and many of them were uniquely embedded within other services for persons with lived experience of homelessness (i.e. housing and social work supports). Pharmacists reported struggling with balancing optimal medical care for individuals with the financial constraints of running a business.ConclusionPharmacists are vital members of the diabetes care team for persons with lived experience of homelessness. Government policies should support and encourage unique models of care provided by pharmacists to improve diabetes management for this population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:39:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-030be8bd38bb4ee880a8611a3744b60f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6616 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:39:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-030be8bd38bb4ee880a8611a3744b60f2022-12-22T04:50:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare2673-66162022-12-01310.3389/fcdhc.2022.10877511087751Pharmacists’ role in diabetes management for persons with lived experience of homelessness in Canada: A qualitative studyBreanna McSweeney0Rachel B. Campbell1Eshleen K. Grewal2David J. T. Campbell3David J. T. Campbell4David J. T. Campbell5Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Cardiac Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaIntroductionPersons with lived experience of homelessness face many challenges in managing diabetes, including purchasing and storing medications, procuring healthy food and accessing healthcare services. Prior studies have found that pharmacy-led interventions for diabetes improved A1C, and lowered blood pressure and cholesterol in general populations. This study evaluated how select pharmacists in Canada have tailored their practices to serve persons with lived experiences of homelessness with diabetes.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative descriptive study using open-ended interviews with inner-city pharmacists in select Canadian municipalities (Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Ottawa). We used NVivo qualitative data analysis software to facilitate thematic analysis of the data, focusing on how pharmacists contributed to diabetes care for persons with lived experience of homelessness.ResultsThese pharmacists developed diabetes programs after discovering an unmet need in the population. Pharmacists have the unique ability to see patients frequently, allowing tailored education and hands-on assistance with diabetes management. These pharmacists provided extra-ordinary care like financial and housing resources and many of them were uniquely embedded within other services for persons with lived experience of homelessness (i.e. housing and social work supports). Pharmacists reported struggling with balancing optimal medical care for individuals with the financial constraints of running a business.ConclusionPharmacists are vital members of the diabetes care team for persons with lived experience of homelessness. Government policies should support and encourage unique models of care provided by pharmacists to improve diabetes management for this population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcdhc.2022.1087751/fulldiabeteshomelessnesspharmacistspharmacy servicesaccess to care |
| spellingShingle | Breanna McSweeney Rachel B. Campbell Eshleen K. Grewal David J. T. Campbell David J. T. Campbell David J. T. Campbell Pharmacists’ role in diabetes management for persons with lived experience of homelessness in Canada: A qualitative study Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare diabetes homelessness pharmacists pharmacy services access to care |
| title | Pharmacists’ role in diabetes management for persons with lived experience of homelessness in Canada: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Pharmacists’ role in diabetes management for persons with lived experience of homelessness in Canada: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Pharmacists’ role in diabetes management for persons with lived experience of homelessness in Canada: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pharmacists’ role in diabetes management for persons with lived experience of homelessness in Canada: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Pharmacists’ role in diabetes management for persons with lived experience of homelessness in Canada: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | pharmacists role in diabetes management for persons with lived experience of homelessness in canada a qualitative study |
| topic | diabetes homelessness pharmacists pharmacy services access to care |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcdhc.2022.1087751/full |
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