| Abstract | Introduction
A number of UK studies have investigated the role of pharmacists in public health (Blenkinsopp, et al. 2002; Anderson and Blenkinsopp 2003; Agomo 2012a). However, many of these studies have also identified barriers in this public health role (Agomo 2012a; Agomo and Ogunleye 2014). My project aimed to identify strategies, which could enhance the public health role of community pharmacists in the UK.
Method
My project used a mixed methods approach, involving a content analysis of the UK undergraduate pharmacy curriculum, a descriptive survey of UK community pharmacists and interviews with healthcare practitioners to investigate strategies enhancing the public health role of community pharmacists in the UK.
Results
The majority of my survey respondents indicated that there was a need for pharmacists to work closely with other healthcare practitioners [93.1%, C.I. ±5.32]; pharmacy students to train with other healthcare students [81.4%, C.I. ±8.21]; students and pharmacists to be provided with advanced experience in public health [86.2%, C.I. ±7.24 and 89.8%, C.I. ±6.32 respectively]; as well as increasing the public health content of the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum [64.8%, C.I. ±9.97]. Respondents from Cardiff were more likely to participate in local authority-run schemes than other respondents (p < .001; η2 = .296). Male respondents were more likely to agree that 'insufficient funding from the government’ was a barrier to the public health role of community pharmacists [p = .011; ρ = -.269]. The findings of my interviews confirmed several aspects of my survey findings, particularly as regards accessibility, encouraging collaboration between pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, and tackling a number of barriers, such as the lack of awareness of the public health skills of pharmacists. There were some indications from my content analysis that the teaching of macro-level public health activities (such as epidemiology, assessment, pharmacovigilance, policy development and assurance at the population-based level) in most UK pharmacy schools was either minimal or lacking.
Conclusion
There is a need to enhance the public health role of community pharmacists in the UK. This will help make public health services more accessible to the public, reduce healthcare costs and pressures on other healthcare professionals, as well as helping to elevate the image of community pharmacists. |
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