Competence, competition and collaboration: Perceived challenges among Swedish community pharmacists engaging in pharmaceutical services provision and research

Abstract

Background Creating evidence of effectiveness is an important part of service development. In an ongoing research project Swedish community pharmacists participate in services research by recruiting patients initiated on statins to an adherence‐promoting cognitive pharmaceutical service, jointly run by nurses and pharmacists. Aims To explore the pharmacists’ experiences of providing part of the service and their views regarding future participation in practice research aiming at developing cognitive pharmaceutical services. Methods Focus group interviews were conducted with community pharmacists from pharmacies participating in the project. A semi‐structured interview guide was developed, based on the aim and earlier research. Results The domains identified were the service itself, operative conditions, the pharmacists’ role/profession and stakeholders. The research project was thought to promote the local pharmacy to customers, increase job satisfaction and contribute to service development. However, a perceived lack of competence among pharmacists affected both patient communication and project involvement. Additional resources and strengthened collaboration with other local healthcare were requested. Competition among pharmacy chains was identified as a barrier to patient‐centred service provision and research. Conclusion The current operative conditions in Swedish community pharmacies were perceived by pharmacists as hampering cognitive pharmaceutical services provision and research. Additional resources, improved communication skills and research competence, and increased collaboration with other healthcare and across pharmacy chains are necessary changes. A stronger patient‐centred perspective among all stakeholders is required.

Stakeholder-Guided Formation of a Statewide Community Pharmacy Practice-Based Research Network

“…These evaluations can facilitate transformation to value-based care. Indeed, pharmacists readily recognize that evidence is needed to support practice advancement in the community setting [19,20]. Since clinically integrated networks of community pharmacies are forming in nearly every state across the United States, there is ample opportunity for more community pharmacy PBRNs to grow from these networks and assist with outcomes research [6].…”

A Comparative Model Analysis of Predictors of Community Pharmacists’ Collaborative Practices in Two Southwestern States in Nigeria

“…Competitive behavior is considered an aspect of human nature that is expressed in competition between business entities in the business environment which has been the subject of management research [14]. A study situated in Sweden identified high levels of competition among community pharmacists as a major barrier to collaborative focus on the patients' or customers' satisfaction [15]. A common form of competition among community pharmacists is price wars and discounting, a practice prevalent in developing countries.…”

“…Collaborative practices support quality service delivery and improve customer or patient engagement, and innovativeness [20]. A study of community pharmacists' services and collaboration in Sweden reveals low levels of collaborative behavior as a barrier to patientcentered pharmaceutical care [15,21].…”

Factors influencing French community pharmacists’ willingness to participate in research projects: a mixed method study

“…Similarly, community pharmacists in France aim to use research projects to improve their practice, and develop new pharmacy services [22]. This perception is shared among Swedish community pharmacists, where research projects are viewed as means to promote community pharmacies to patients, and contribute to the development of new services [23]. However, community pharmacists often lack experience and feel uncomfortable with conducting such research due to perceived knowledge gaps.…”