Online Program

327638
Organizational facilitators of public health service provision though English community pharmacies: Findings from a cross-sectional survey


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 10:30 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.

Sally Jacobs, PhD, Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK, Manchester, United Kingdom
Ellen Schafheutle, PhD, Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK, Manchester, United Kingdom
Karen Hassell, PhD, College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA
Mark Hann, PhD, Institute for Population Health, Centre for Biostatistics, University of Manchester, UK, Manchester, United Kingdom
Fay Bradley, PhD, Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK, Manchester, United Kingdom
Rebecca Elvey, PhD, Institute for Population Health, Centre for Primary Care, University of Manchester, UK, Manchester, United Kingdom
Tom Fegan, MPharm, Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK, Manchester, United Kingdom
Devina Halsall, PhD, Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK, Manchester, United Kingdom
Andrew Wagner, MSc, Division 5, NIHR Comprehensive Research Network Eastern, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Background: Most community pharmacies in England now provide medicines-related and public health services alongside more traditional medicines supply services. These services are publicly-funded and free at the point of access to patients. Remuneration is as fee-per-service, and is currently not linked to quality or outcome measures. Medicines use reviews (MURs), address both medicines optimization and public health goals by aiming to increase patient understanding and adherence, but concerns have been raised that quantity may be prioritised over quality. Aim: To investigate the organizational characteristics associated with variation in the volume of dispensing and MUR provision in England. Method: Data on organizational characteristics from a cross-sectional survey of 284 English community pharmacies were linked to existing service activity data and socio-economic variables by organizational code and post (ZIP) code. Multivariable regression of numbers of items dispensed/year and MURs conducted/year were run. Findings: Whilst staffing and skill-mix  and average hours/day worked by the main pharmacist were all significant predictors of annual dispensing volume, for MURs, the key predictor was pharmacy type: chains conducted significantly more MURs than independent pharmacies (<6 stores). Longer opening hours and having an accuracy checker were also significantly associated with increased MUR activity. Conclusion: Whilst larger chains have  more capacity to deliver a greater volume of services than independent pharmacies, independent pharmacies might need to be incentivised or reimbursed differently if pharmacists’ public health role is to achieve greater penetration and be associated with quality patient outcomes.

Learning Areas:

Other professions or practice related to public health
Provision of health care to the public
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the organization and delivery of public health services by community pharmacy services in England Identify the organizational characteristics associated with variation in volume of services delivered by community pharmacies in England Discuss the similarities and differences to the organization and delivery of public health services by community pharmacies in the US

Keyword(s): Pharmacists, Health Care Delivery

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been principal and co-investigator on UK government and charity-funded grants forcussing on organisational and workforce issues in the delivery of medicines-related healthcare and public health services through community pharmacies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.