2023/11/18 by Evgenia Paloumpi, Piotr Ozierański, Margaret Watson +1 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Medicine · Health Professions · #Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes #Medication Adherence and Compliance #Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/ijpp/riad082
openalex publication_date 2023/11/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
OBJECTIVE: To explore pharmacy users' perceptions of current and future provision of community pharmacy services in England. METHODS: Qualitative, reconvened focus groups were conducted with community pharmacy users. An initial focus group explored preliminary views. Participants were then given an evidence brief describing community pharmacy before a reconvened focus group two weeks later. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. KEY FINDINGS: Eleven individuals participated across two reconvened focus groups. Participants valued community pharmacies and staff, but lacked awareness of their services and roles: '… I don't think the general public is aware of all of this … it gives you a very different perspective'. Urgent care and long-term conditions management were identified as suitable for future development, facilitated by training, closer collaboration with general practices, shared access to health records, and premises with more space and confidentiality: 'I still think of it as a retail space more than as a health service'. Concerns were expressed about working conditions in community pharmacy and unplanned closures: 'doesn't sound like a great place to work'. Participants anticipated greater use of technology but did not want this to replace face-to-face contact with pharmacy staff: 'I am not saying it's inaccurate, it is so remote and impersonal'. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacy users would value a greater role for community pharmacy in addressing the challenges currently faced by the health service in England, provided that their concerns on a range of issues are addressed.