Raising awareness of pre-conception care in community pharmacies: a feasibility study
Abstract Background There is growing evidence to support the introduction of pre-conception interventions to optimise the health of mothers and their future children. At present, there is poor awareness regarding the importance of pre-conception care (PCC) amongst healthcare professionals and couple...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Pilot and Feasibility Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01001-7 |
| _version_ | 1818982006420144128 |
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| author | KA Eastwood V. A. Allen-Walker M. Maxwell M. C. McKinley |
| author_facet | KA Eastwood V. A. Allen-Walker M. Maxwell M. C. McKinley |
| author_sort | KA Eastwood |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There is growing evidence to support the introduction of pre-conception interventions to optimise the health of mothers and their future children. At present, there is poor awareness regarding the importance of pre-conception care (PCC) amongst healthcare professionals and couples planning a pregnancy. Community pharmacies are ideally placed to reach a range of prospective couples planning a pregnancy and could effectively provide information about PCC. Methods This study assessed feasibility of an intervention to raise awareness of PCC in community pharmacies in Northern Ireland over 3 months. Inclusion criteria: women of childbearing age (16–45 years) engaging with services at participating pharmacies. Study resources: campaign posters, information cards, crib sheets for pharmacy staff. A mixed methods approach was employed, including, brief information provision for women, record of staff interactions with customers, customer feedback cards and qualitative interviews with pharmacy staff. Descriptive statistics assessed distribution of study resources and staff interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis framework. Results There were eight participating pharmacies, three of which consented to post-study interviews. Three pharmacies chose not to deliver the planned intervention. Distribution of campaign cards (n = 456) varied (0–86%). Analysis of customer feedback cards (n = 9) demonstrated that the majority of respondents were happy to receive information on pre-conception health. Of the women who responded to this question (n = 8), all were ‘extremely likely’ or ‘likely’ to act on the information provided. Four main themes emerged from analysis of staff interviews: (1) training and experience in providing health advice, (2) intervention resources, (3) understanding the aims of the intervention, (4) perceived value of the intervention. Barriers to intervention delivery included non-engagement from pharmacies and need for additional training of staff. Conclusions An intervention to raise awareness of PCC within a community pharmacy setting was feasible and acceptable to both women and staff in participating pharmacies. This study indicates that a number of factors must be considered to enhance implementation and effectiveness of PCC interventions in this setting. In particular, better understanding of non-engagement, provision of adequate training and support for staff, and exploring incentives for pharmacies to prioritise PCC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:40:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c73f1b903a6430288dde425c6b8481c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-5784 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:40:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pilot and Feasibility Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c73f1b903a6430288dde425c6b8481c2022-12-21T19:31:06ZengBMCPilot and Feasibility Studies2055-57842022-02-018111110.1186/s40814-022-01001-7Raising awareness of pre-conception care in community pharmacies: a feasibility studyKA Eastwood0V. A. Allen-Walker1M. Maxwell2M. C. McKinley3Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University BelfastCentre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University BelfastHearty Lives, Carrickfergus, Carrickfergus Borough Council, Museum and Civic CentreCentre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University BelfastAbstract Background There is growing evidence to support the introduction of pre-conception interventions to optimise the health of mothers and their future children. At present, there is poor awareness regarding the importance of pre-conception care (PCC) amongst healthcare professionals and couples planning a pregnancy. Community pharmacies are ideally placed to reach a range of prospective couples planning a pregnancy and could effectively provide information about PCC. Methods This study assessed feasibility of an intervention to raise awareness of PCC in community pharmacies in Northern Ireland over 3 months. Inclusion criteria: women of childbearing age (16–45 years) engaging with services at participating pharmacies. Study resources: campaign posters, information cards, crib sheets for pharmacy staff. A mixed methods approach was employed, including, brief information provision for women, record of staff interactions with customers, customer feedback cards and qualitative interviews with pharmacy staff. Descriptive statistics assessed distribution of study resources and staff interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis framework. Results There were eight participating pharmacies, three of which consented to post-study interviews. Three pharmacies chose not to deliver the planned intervention. Distribution of campaign cards (n = 456) varied (0–86%). Analysis of customer feedback cards (n = 9) demonstrated that the majority of respondents were happy to receive information on pre-conception health. Of the women who responded to this question (n = 8), all were ‘extremely likely’ or ‘likely’ to act on the information provided. Four main themes emerged from analysis of staff interviews: (1) training and experience in providing health advice, (2) intervention resources, (3) understanding the aims of the intervention, (4) perceived value of the intervention. Barriers to intervention delivery included non-engagement from pharmacies and need for additional training of staff. Conclusions An intervention to raise awareness of PCC within a community pharmacy setting was feasible and acceptable to both women and staff in participating pharmacies. This study indicates that a number of factors must be considered to enhance implementation and effectiveness of PCC interventions in this setting. In particular, better understanding of non-engagement, provision of adequate training and support for staff, and exploring incentives for pharmacies to prioritise PCC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01001-7Pre-conceptionPregnancyInterventionPharmacy |
| spellingShingle | KA Eastwood V. A. Allen-Walker M. Maxwell M. C. McKinley Raising awareness of pre-conception care in community pharmacies: a feasibility study Pilot and Feasibility Studies Pre-conception Pregnancy Intervention Pharmacy |
| title | Raising awareness of pre-conception care in community pharmacies: a feasibility study |
| title_full | Raising awareness of pre-conception care in community pharmacies: a feasibility study |
| title_fullStr | Raising awareness of pre-conception care in community pharmacies: a feasibility study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Raising awareness of pre-conception care in community pharmacies: a feasibility study |
| title_short | Raising awareness of pre-conception care in community pharmacies: a feasibility study |
| title_sort | raising awareness of pre conception care in community pharmacies a feasibility study |
| topic | Pre-conception Pregnancy Intervention Pharmacy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01001-7 |
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