The role of the community pharmacist in fulfilling information needs of patients starting oral antidiabetics

Patient opinions on medicine-use review: exploring an expanding role of community pharmacists

“…These information needs among patients create an opportunity for community pharmacists to offer enhanced services like MUR, as found in this study, and other services, such as provision of information to patients with type 2 diabetes,22 especially those who are newly diagnosed 23…”

Community pharmacy in Australia: A health hub destination of the future

“…Overall the core finding of this study was the potential for community pharmacies to move beyond medication supply and become a health hub destination that assisted consumers with chronic conditions across three key domains: health care system navigation, medication management and eventually, health advocacy. Although the shift for pharmacy to provide professional health services has been emphasised both nationally 30 and internationally, 7,31,32 the notion that they could provide consumer support to navigate the health system and act as health advocates broadens the patient-centred approach to care. Barriers associated with an extended health care role were also discussed and reinforce those reported in the literature.…”

“…As community pharmacy has been viewed as highly accessible, 4,5 pharmacists clearly have a role to play in improving the health care for these consumers. 6 In particular, the pharmacy profession has been shifting towards care delivery that is more patient-centered, 7 with pharmacists in many countries providing management programs for chronic conditions including asthma, arthritis, mental illness, diabetes, cardiovascular health and osteoporosis. 8 In Australia, whilst community pharmacists are still focused on dispensing medication, they have also integrated a range of professional services into their practice such as medication reviews and diseasespecific management programs.…”

“…18 Although the reasons for underutilisation are complex, one very important issue is the lack of consumer awareness of the breadth of skills pharmacists have. 19,20 Research suggests that consumers perceive the pharmacist's primary role as medication providers, 7,12 or mainly view the community pharmacy as a place to purchase quality medications. 12 One Australian study has also corroborated the belief that the core function of a pharmacy is the provision of medicine and advice, highlighting the limited awareness of consumers and consumers advocates (e.g., support group representatives) about the services offered by community pharmacy.…”

Communication with patients who are dispensed a first prescription of chronic medication in the community pharmacy

“…An important objective of communicating with patients in a community pharmacy, could be to fulfill patients' needs for information, to support patients' drug decisions, and to contribute to patients' drug adherence [11]. This is needed as the general practitioner does not always fulfill all the information needs of their patient [12]. Pharmacies can make a valuable contribution by communicating with patients about the prescribed drug therapy, increasing their knowledge [13].…”