Patients’ Opinions towards the Services of Pharmacists Based in General Practice

Pharmacists have been included in general practice teams to provide non-dispensing services for patients. In Australia, pharmacists’ role in general practice has been slowly expanding. However, there is a paucity of research to explore patients’ opinions toward pharmacist-led services in general pra...

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Main Authors: Thilini Sudeshika, Mark Naunton, Kwang C. Yee, Louise S. Deeks, Gregory M. Peterson, Sam Kosari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Pharmacy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/10/4/78
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author Thilini Sudeshika
Mark Naunton
Kwang C. Yee
Louise S. Deeks
Gregory M. Peterson
Sam Kosari
author_facet Thilini Sudeshika
Mark Naunton
Kwang C. Yee
Louise S. Deeks
Gregory M. Peterson
Sam Kosari
author_sort Thilini Sudeshika
collection DOAJ
description Pharmacists have been included in general practice teams to provide non-dispensing services for patients. In Australia, pharmacists’ role in general practice has been slowly expanding. However, there is a paucity of research to explore patients’ opinions toward pharmacist-led services in general practice. This study aimed to assess patient awareness, perceived needs, and satisfaction with these services. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a purposeful sample of patients who visited six general practices in the Australian Capital Territory that included pharmacists in their team. The survey was informed by the literature and pre-tested. The survey was distributed to two samples: patients who had seen a pharmacist and those who had not seen a pharmacist. Of 100 responses received, 86 responses were included in the analysis: patients who had seen a pharmacist (<i>n</i> = 46) and patients who had not seen a pharmacist (<i>n</i> = 40). Almost all the patients who utilised pharmacist-led services were highly satisfied with those services. Among patients who had not seen a pharmacist, 50% were aware of the existence of general practice pharmacists. Patients who had visited the pharmacist rated higher scores for perceived needs. Patient satisfaction towards the pharmacist-led services in general practices was very high, and patients supported the expansion of these services. However, awareness of the availability of general practice pharmacist services could be improved.
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spelling doaj.art-b3f9bf52922340ceb6f39928d2cf2d1a2023-11-30T22:12:30ZengMDPI AGPharmacy2226-47872022-07-011047810.3390/pharmacy10040078Patients’ Opinions towards the Services of Pharmacists Based in General PracticeThilini Sudeshika0Mark Naunton1Kwang C. Yee2Louise S. Deeks3Gregory M. Peterson4Sam Kosari5Discipline of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, AustraliaDiscipline of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, AustraliaDiscipline of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, AustraliaDiscipline of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, AustraliaDiscipline of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, AustraliaDiscipline of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, AustraliaPharmacists have been included in general practice teams to provide non-dispensing services for patients. In Australia, pharmacists’ role in general practice has been slowly expanding. However, there is a paucity of research to explore patients’ opinions toward pharmacist-led services in general practice. This study aimed to assess patient awareness, perceived needs, and satisfaction with these services. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a purposeful sample of patients who visited six general practices in the Australian Capital Territory that included pharmacists in their team. The survey was informed by the literature and pre-tested. The survey was distributed to two samples: patients who had seen a pharmacist and those who had not seen a pharmacist. Of 100 responses received, 86 responses were included in the analysis: patients who had seen a pharmacist (<i>n</i> = 46) and patients who had not seen a pharmacist (<i>n</i> = 40). Almost all the patients who utilised pharmacist-led services were highly satisfied with those services. Among patients who had not seen a pharmacist, 50% were aware of the existence of general practice pharmacists. Patients who had visited the pharmacist rated higher scores for perceived needs. Patient satisfaction towards the pharmacist-led services in general practices was very high, and patients supported the expansion of these services. However, awareness of the availability of general practice pharmacist services could be improved.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/10/4/78patient opinionsawarenessperceived needssatisfactiongeneral practice pharmacist
spellingShingle Thilini Sudeshika
Mark Naunton
Kwang C. Yee
Louise S. Deeks
Gregory M. Peterson
Sam Kosari
Patients’ Opinions towards the Services of Pharmacists Based in General Practice
Pharmacy
patient opinions
awareness
perceived needs
satisfaction
general practice pharmacist
title Patients’ Opinions towards the Services of Pharmacists Based in General Practice
title_full Patients’ Opinions towards the Services of Pharmacists Based in General Practice
title_fullStr Patients’ Opinions towards the Services of Pharmacists Based in General Practice
title_full_unstemmed Patients’ Opinions towards the Services of Pharmacists Based in General Practice
title_short Patients’ Opinions towards the Services of Pharmacists Based in General Practice
title_sort patients opinions towards the services of pharmacists based in general practice
topic patient opinions
awareness
perceived needs
satisfaction
general practice pharmacist
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/10/4/78
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