A comparative evaluation of pharmacy services in single and no pharmacy towns

Sunderland, V Bruce; Burrows, Suzanne; Joyce, Andrew

doi:10.1186/1743-8462-3-8

Cited by 15 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…UK general practices can hold contractual rights to dispense medication to patients who live >1 mile (1.6 km) from the nearest registered pharmacy. 1 – 3 Such dispensing practices are predominantly rural, where geographical barriers to alternative sources of medication and health care coexist. 4 Both rurality and GPs’ dispensing of medications may affect quality of care and health outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medication adherence and clinical outcomes in dispensing and non-dispensing practices: a cross-sectional analysis

et al. 2020

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BackgroundMost patients obtain medications from pharmacies by prescription, but rural general practices can dispense medications. The clinical implications of this difference in drug delivery are unknown. This study hypothesised that dispensing status may be associated with better medication adherence. This could impact intermediate clinical outcomes dependent on medication adherence in, for example, hypertension or diabetes.AimTo investigate whether dispensing status is associated with differences in achievement of Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators that rely on medication adherence.Design and settingCross-sectional analysis of QOF data for 7392 general practices in England.MethodQOF data from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 linked to dispensing status for general practices with list sizes ≥1000 in England were analysed. QOF indicators were categorised according to whether their achievement depended on a record of prescribing only, medication adherence, or neither. Differences were estimated between dispensing and non-dispensing practices using mixed-effects logistic regression, adjusting for practice population age, sex, deprivation, list size, single-handed status, and rurality.ResultsData existed for 7392 practices; 1014 (13.7%) could dispense. Achievement was better in dispensing practices than in non-dispensing practices for seven of nine QOF indicators dependent on adherence, including blood pressure targets. Only one of ten indicators dependent on prescribing but not adherence displayed better achievement; indicators unrelated to prescribing showed a trend towards higher achievement by dispensing practices.ConclusionDispensing practices may achieve better clinical outcomes than prescribing practices. Further work is required to explore underlying mechanisms for these observations and to directly study medication adherence rates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medication adherence and clinical outcomes in dispensing and non-dispensing practices: a cross-sectional analysis

et al. 2020

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“…A recent study highlighted that access to emergency and minor ailment medications was more difficult for residents in non-pharmacy rural towns. 15 There was under-utilisation of rural pharmacies to provide health promotion advice to their communities. 16 Rural pharmacies have reported a preference for written rather than verbal information compared with urban counterparts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Analysis of Rural Community Pharmacy Practice in Western Australia in 2002 and 2006

Wibowo

Berbatis²,

Joyce

et al. 2012

Pharmacy Practice and Res

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Background Data are lacking on the characteristics of rural and remote community pharmacies in Western Australia (WA). Aim To analyse characteristics of community pharmacies and pharmacists in rural WA in 2006 and to compare these with the results of a national survey conducted in 2002. Method A survey was conducted in 2006 using a questionnaire similar to that used in a national survey conducted in 2002. The questionnaires were mailed to all 103 rural pharmacies in WA, of which 51 were returned (response rate 50%). Chi2 tests were used to compare the 2002 (rural WA) and 2006 data. Results Pharmacist demographic characteristics were mostly unchanged. A trend towards increased employment of younger female pharmacists was found in 2006. 60% of respondents devoted less than 5 hours per month to continuing pharmacy education in both surveys. There were no significant differences in the characteristics of pharmacies in terms of PhARIA location, setting, banner group membership, inclusion of counselling areas, operations, trading hours and annual turnover. Pharmacies accredited by the Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCCP) increased from 42% in 2002 to 86% in 2006. Conclusion Many characteristics of rural WA pharmacies and pharmacists in 2006 were similar to 2002. Increased QCCP accreditations indicated higher quality assurance of rural pharmacy practice. The low uptake of ‘forward pharmacy’ in rural pharmacies warrants further evaluation.

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