Contributions and challenges of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study
Background Healthcare services across the world have been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In primary care, community pharmacists have had an important role in the frontline healthcare response to the pandemic. Objectives This study aimed to explore the experiences, contributions and percei...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-022-00438-8 |
| _version_ | 1797401305391562752 |
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| author | Claire Durand Eric Douriez Aude Chappuis Frédérique Poulain Yazdan Yazdanpanah Sylvie Lariven François-Xavier Lescure Nathan Peiffer-Smadja |
| author_facet | Claire Durand Eric Douriez Aude Chappuis Frédérique Poulain Yazdan Yazdanpanah Sylvie Lariven François-Xavier Lescure Nathan Peiffer-Smadja |
| author_sort | Claire Durand |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Healthcare services across the world have been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In primary care, community pharmacists have had an important role in the frontline healthcare response to the pandemic. Objectives This study aimed to explore the experiences, contributions and perceived challenges of community pharmacists regarding the provision of healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with community pharmacists in France. Participants were recruited through a professional organization of pharmacists combined with a snowballing technique. Interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using thematic analysis. Results A total of 16 community pharmacists participated in the interviews. Study participants described providing a range of novel services in response to the pandemic on top of continuing their usual services. All participants described providing preventative services to reduce and mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as education on hygiene and social distancing, delivery of face masks and hand sanitizer and adjusting pharmacy premises. Most respondents also described being involved in SARS-CoV-2 detection through screening and performing antigen testing in pharmacies. Participants reported being actively involved in COVID-19 vaccination by educating the general public about vaccines, facilitating their distribution to general practitioners as well as administering vaccines. Over half the respondents described rapidly changing guidelines and service users’ anxiety as challenges to the provision of healthcare services during the pandemic. Conclusions This study suggests that community pharmacists have significantly contributed to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring continuity of pharmaceutical services and providing novel screening, testing and vaccination services. Their roles and responsibilities during the COVID-19 health crisis indicate that they can play an important role in the management of emerging infectious diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:08:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cf671ea58d54465abd059297aeb88048 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-3211 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:08:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-cf671ea58d54465abd059297aeb880482023-12-07T15:28:04ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice2052-32112022-12-0115110.1186/s40545-022-00438-812315349Contributions and challenges of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative studyClaire Durand0Eric Douriez1Aude Chappuis2Frédérique Poulain3Yazdan Yazdanpanah4Sylvie Lariven5François-Xavier Lescure6Nathan Peiffer-Smadja7Infection Antimicrobials Modelling Evolution (IAME), UMR 1137,Union Régionale Des Professionnels de Santé Pharmaciens Ile-de-France,Union Régionale Des Professionnels de Santé Pharmaciens Ile-de-France,Union Régionale Des Professionnels de Santé Pharmaciens Ile-de-France,Infection Antimicrobials Modelling Evolution (IAME), UMR 1137,Infectious Disease Department, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital,Infection Antimicrobials Modelling Evolution (IAME), UMR 1137,Infection Antimicrobials Modelling Evolution (IAME), UMR 1137,Background Healthcare services across the world have been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In primary care, community pharmacists have had an important role in the frontline healthcare response to the pandemic. Objectives This study aimed to explore the experiences, contributions and perceived challenges of community pharmacists regarding the provision of healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with community pharmacists in France. Participants were recruited through a professional organization of pharmacists combined with a snowballing technique. Interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using thematic analysis. Results A total of 16 community pharmacists participated in the interviews. Study participants described providing a range of novel services in response to the pandemic on top of continuing their usual services. All participants described providing preventative services to reduce and mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as education on hygiene and social distancing, delivery of face masks and hand sanitizer and adjusting pharmacy premises. Most respondents also described being involved in SARS-CoV-2 detection through screening and performing antigen testing in pharmacies. Participants reported being actively involved in COVID-19 vaccination by educating the general public about vaccines, facilitating their distribution to general practitioners as well as administering vaccines. Over half the respondents described rapidly changing guidelines and service users’ anxiety as challenges to the provision of healthcare services during the pandemic. Conclusions This study suggests that community pharmacists have significantly contributed to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring continuity of pharmaceutical services and providing novel screening, testing and vaccination services. Their roles and responsibilities during the COVID-19 health crisis indicate that they can play an important role in the management of emerging infectious diseases.http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-022-00438-8covid-19infection prevention and controlpandemiccommunity pharmacypublic health |
| spellingShingle | Claire Durand Eric Douriez Aude Chappuis Frédérique Poulain Yazdan Yazdanpanah Sylvie Lariven François-Xavier Lescure Nathan Peiffer-Smadja Contributions and challenges of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice covid-19 infection prevention and control pandemic community pharmacy public health |
| title | Contributions and challenges of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Contributions and challenges of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Contributions and challenges of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contributions and challenges of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Contributions and challenges of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | contributions and challenges of community pharmacists during the covid 19 pandemic a qualitative study |
| topic | covid-19 infection prevention and control pandemic community pharmacy public health |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-022-00438-8 |
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