Burning questions: Exploring the impact of natural disasters on community pharmacies

Abstract

BackgroundThe past decade has seen a rapid change in the climate system with an increased risk of extreme weather events. On and following the 3 rd of January 2013, Tasmania experienced three catastrophic bushfires, which led to the evacuation of several communities, the loss of many properties, and a financial cost of approximately AUD$80 million. ObjectiveTo explore the impacts of the 2012/2013 Tasmanian bushfires on community pharmacies. MethodQualitative research methods were undertaken, employing semi-structured telephone interviews with a purposive sample of seven Tasmanian pharmacists. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and two different methods were used to analyse the text. The first method utilised Leximancer® text analytics software to provide a birds-eye view of the conceptual structure of the text. The second method involved manual, open and axial coding, conducted independently by the two researchers for inter-rater reliability, to identify key themes in the discourse. ResultsTwo main themes were identified -'people' and 'supply' -from which six key concepts were derived. The six concepts were 'patients', 'pharmacists', 'local doctor', 'pharmacy operations', 'disaster management planning', and 'emergency supply regulation'. ConclusionThis study identified challenges faced by community pharmacists during Tasmanian bushfires. Interviewees highlighted the need for both the Tasmanian State Government and the Australian Federal Government to recognise the important primary care role that community pharmacists play during natural disasters, and therefore involve pharmacists in disaster management planning. They called for greater support and guidance for community pharmacists from regulatory and other government bodies during these events. Their comments highlighted the need for a review of Tasmania's 3-day emergency supply regulation that allows pharmacists to provide a three-day supply of a patient's medication without a doctor's prescription in an emergency situation.

Still Burning: An Exploration of the Impacts of the 2018/2019 Tasmanian Summer Bushfires on Community Pharmacy Operations in Affected Communities

“…26 Following disasters, Australians will seek medical assistance from local GP practices, community pharmacies, and public hospitals. 24 Immediately following a disaster, both pharmacists 19 and GPs 24 have reported being inundated with patients seeking medical assistance or medication supplies. Pharmacists and GPs play an important role in helping the community in the recovery phase, which will continue long after first responders and the media have left.…”

“…They were developed from an interview format used in previously published research exploring community pharmacists' experiences of community pharmacy operations during a bushfire event. 19 Questions relating to the Prevention -Preparedness -Response -Recovery (PPRR) phases of the disaster management model were added to the previously developed interview format. 20 These additional questions aimed to explore community pharmacists' actions across the PPRR continuum during the bushfire event.…”

Disaster Health Management: Do Pharmacists Fit in the Team?

“…Hospital pharmacies generally have developed their own emergency management plans in the event of a disaster, 44 but they are rarely included in broader disaster management policy within their health care system. Community pharmacies are generally not well-prepared with disaster and emergency plans or business continuity plans, 45 and they are not included in the wider community disaster policy 46 …”

Ready, willing and able: the role of pharmacists in natural and manmade disasters – can we do more?

“…[9] In Australia during disasters, the community has the expectation that pharmacies will stay open late and supply medications, sometimes in lieu of a prescription and money, until community services including health services return to normal. However, this expectation does not align with the restrictions placed on pharmacists by Australian legislation, [10,11] nor is there provision for the reimbursement to community pharmacy owners for the items supplied for which patients cannot pay. [11] The roles and responsibilities of pharmacists in disasters need to be recognised and aligned with the community's expectations.…”

“…However, this expectation does not align with the restrictions placed on pharmacists by Australian legislation, [10,11] nor is there provision for the reimbursement to community pharmacy owners for the items supplied for which patients cannot pay. [11] The roles and responsibilities of pharmacists in disasters need to be recognised and aligned with the community's expectations. Pharmacists are essential members of the healthcare team and as such have an important role to play during disasters.…”