Year: 2006
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Aims of study\nThe overall aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting service delivery within a national pharmacy chain, from the perspective of pharmacists and consumers, using asthma services as an example. Data were collected to explore the current environment and opportunities available to pharmacy, the factors affecting service\ndelivery, and to identify recommendations for future service models. The impact of the design and route of service implementation were studied through two different types of asthma services.\n\nMethods\nThe brief intervention in asthma was designed centrally and implemented nationally, whilst the asthma service was designed and implemented locally by a group of pharmacists. A triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods were used throughout this study, including an omnibus survey, audits, mystery customer research, customer and pharmacist interviews, and a review of the dispensing data.\n\nResults\nA total of 81 facilitators, 45 barriers and 23 motivators were identified. In addition to extending those factors that had been previously recognised within the literature, new factors were also identified. Firstly, the route and design of service implementation to\npromote local ownership and responsibility for delivery of services was found to be a key factor, as was having flexibility in the length and content of service delivery. Clear and visible benefits to the pharmacists delivering the service, the customers accessing the service, and the pharmacy organisation were also found to play an\nimportant role in the delivery of services.\n\nConclusions\nThis is the first large scale study of its kind to look at all the factors involved from the perspective of both customers and pharmacists, and many of the facilitators and barriers identified extend beyond those provided within the current literature. The\nmotivators identified within the previous studies have been from the perspective of pharmacists only. This study has looked at the perspective of not only pharmacists, but also the motivators to customers and the service provider. Based on all the factors\nidentified throughout this study, a number of recommendations have been made for future service delivery.
Author: Tracey Thornley
Institution: University of Nottingham
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1504675923