A scenario-planning approach to human resources for health: the case of community pharmacists in Portugal

Gregório, João; Cavaco, Afonso; Lapão, Luís Velez

doi:10.1186/1478-4491-12-58

Cited by 24 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Other studies also identified the need for pharmacy consultations to become more patient-oriented. 9,17,22,23 Given the sensitive nature of OEC requests these consultations should be carried in a private area. 24,25 In the present study the SP was not offered this option, although the pharmacy was equipped with a separated seated consultation area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality supply of nonprescription medicines in Portuguese community pharmacy: An exploratory case study

Veiga

Lapão

Cavaco

et al. 2015

Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality supply of nonprescription medicines in Portuguese community pharmacy: An exploratory case study

Veiga

Lapão

Cavaco

et al. 2015

Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy

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“…The exercise recognized the changing environment as a huge challenge but also an opportunity to develop the role that community pharmacists may play in the Portuguese health system. For this exercise two objectives were considered: (i) to analyze the possible evolution of community pharmacists’ role in the Portuguese healthcare system by building and studying three different scenarios, and (ii) to identify the main driving forces and related uncertainties that may impact on the definition of the future community pharmacists’ role [23]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Investing in IST and modernizing the architecture of pharmacies is considered as a necessary and critical step towards the diffusion of new forms of practice [22, 23]. eHealth services may develop in the next few years to harvest the full potential of CP, enhancing their role in the primary care network and supporting their activities in chronic disease management [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementing an online pharmaceutical service using design science research

Lapão

Silva

Gregório

2017

BMC Med Inform Decis Mak

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Background: The rising prevalence of chronic diseases is pressing health systems to introduce reforms. Primary healthcare and multidisciplinary models have been suggested as approaches to deal with this challenge, with new roles for nurses and pharmacists being advocated. More recently, implementing healthcare based on information systems and technologies (e.g. eHealth) has been proposed as a way to improve health services. However, implementing online pharmaceutical services, including their adoption by pharmacists and patients, is still an open research question. In this paper we present ePharmacare, a new online pharmaceutical service implemented using Design Science Research. Methods: The Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) was chosen to implement this online service for chronic diseases management. In the paper, DSRM's different activities are explained, from the definition of the problem to the evaluation of the artifact. During the design and development activities, surveys, observations, focus groups, and eyetracking glasses were used to validate pharmacists' and patients' requirements. During the demonstration and evaluation activities the new service was used with real-world pharmacists and patients. Results: The results show the contribution of DSRM in the implementation of online services for pharmacies. We found that pharmacists spend only 50% of their time interacting with patients, uncovering a clear opportunity to implement online pharmaceutical care services. On the other hand, patients that regularly visit the same pharmacy recognize the value in patient follow-up demanding to use channels such as the Internet for their pharmacy interactions. Limitations were identified regarding the high workload of pharmacists, but particularly their lack of know-how and experience in dealing with information systems (IST) for the provision of pharmaceutical services. Conclusions: This paper summarizes a research project in which an online pharmaceutical service was proposed, designed, developed, demonstrated and evaluated using DSRM. The main barriers for pharmacists' adoption of online pharmaceutical services provision were the lack of time, time management and information systems usage skills, as well as a precise role definition within pharmacies. These problems can be addressed with proper training and services reorganization, two proposals to be investigated in future works.

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“…Human Resources for Health (HRH) are widely recognized as the most important assets and the pillar of any health system for the provision, production and delivery of healthcare services [2], thus being one of the focus areas for the strengthening of health policies [3]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) in the 2006 report “Working together for health” identified a global shortage of almost 4.3 million physicians, midwives, nurses and support workers. It also identified the 57 countries with critical shortages of these HRH, 36 of these located in Africa [3]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The current situation of human resources for health in the province of Cabinda in Angola: is it a limitation to provide universal access to healthcare?

Macaia

Lapão

2017

Hum Resour Health

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BackgroundAngola is among sub-Saharan African countries dealing with a crisis of Human Resources for Health (HRH). The province of Cabinda, besides the efforts, still suffers from both HRH shortage and a badly distributed health workforce. In Cabinda, one can find urban concentration and rural shortages of healthcare professionals, many rural areas’ healthcare facilities often secured only by basic or medium level HRH; and difficulties in developing HRH retention strategies in rural areas where most services are covered by foreign HRH. This study aims at analysing the situation of HRH in the province of Cabinda. It considers organizational issues, policies and practices resulting from the HRH strategy followed in the recent years, moreover the creation of a medical school. The context that affects the distribution of the health workforce is analysed to contribute to the development of evidence-based policies that promote a better HRH allocation in the poorest and distant villages in the province.MethodsA mixed-methods study was developed, combining a quantitative and qualitative approach to analyse HRH situation in the province of Cabinda. Data was collected from key informants, selected by intentional sampling from public and private health organizations, to respond to a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. Quantitative and qualitative data was analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics and content analysis respectively. The study was complemented by a comprehensive desk review.ResultsResults show a clear change in HRH data from 2011 to 2015 with significant fluctuations due to variations in retirement, migration and lack of regular public HRH recruitment tenders. HRH density is apparently better in rural when compared with urban areas. However, one should bear in mind that often HRH allocated to rural areas do not stay there, which leads to real geographical imbalances. Factors like lack of proper incentives for HRH retention and social support goes against significant HRH management efforts contributing to this result. Whereas HRH are financed by the State General Budget, the majority of health facilities are still dependent on the Provincial Health Secretariat budget.ConclusionThe study provides a broader view of the current HRH situation in Cabinda Province. Geographical imbalances and other issues with impact in delivering universal access to healthcare are highlighted.

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A scenario-planning approach to human resources for health: the case of community pharmacists in Portugal

Cited by 24 publications

References 44 publications

Quality supply of nonprescription medicines in Portuguese community pharmacy: An exploratory case study

Quality supply of nonprescription medicines in Portuguese community pharmacy: An exploratory case study

Implementing an online pharmaceutical service using design science research

The current situation of human resources for health in the province of Cabinda in Angola: is it a limitation to provide universal access to healthcare?

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