Delivery of enhanced asthma care in pharmacies: Perceptions and experiences of Australian service providers

Background

Evidence-based asthma management services have been tested in Australian community pharmacies for over 2 decades and have been well received by patients but are not retained in practice. The positive clinical outcomes of these tested services suggest the potential for wider implementation, for which the providers’ perspective is critical.

Objective

This investigation evaluates the implementability of the Pharmacy Asthma Service (PAS) through the experiences and perceptions of the community pharmacists delivering the service.

Methods

Forty-eight pharmacists took part in a posttrial semi-structured qualitative telephone interview, representing 42 of 51 (82%) eligible PAS intervention arm pharmacies. Qualitative data were deductively analyzed in accordance with the Implementation Outcomes Framework.

Results

Pharmacists recognized the positive impact of the service on patients’ health outcomes, the pharmacist’s practice, and in fostering stronger and more beneficial pharmacist-patient relationships. However, whilst acknowledging the importance of such a service, the pharmacists faced challenges in recruitment and patient follow-up. Pharmacists stated that further work is required to address pharmacist and patient time constraints, patient health beliefs and to increase the acceptance of pharmaceutical care provision in community pharmacy practice by patients and other health care professionals.

Conclusion

Pharmacists can deliver enhanced clinical care for asthma patients with positive perceived professional and patient outcomes. However, it remains evident that time, remuneration, and recognition of the pharmacist’s role in chronic care management form barriers to the implementation of asthma services in community pharmacies. Broader policy and systemic changes are required to successfully balance medication supply and quality patient management roles at the same time as a required shift in research processes.