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A cross-sectional survey of the access of older people in the Scottish Highlands to general medical practices, community pharmacies and prescription medicines.

Rushworth, Gordon F.; Cunningham, Scott; Pfleger, Sharon; Hall, Jenny; Stewart, Derek C.

Authors

Gordon F. Rushworth

Sharon Pfleger

Jenny Hall

Derek C. Stewart



Abstract

Access to medicines and healthcare is more problematic in remote and rural areas. The purpose of this study was to quantify issues of access to general practitioners (GPs), community pharmacies and prescribed medicines in older people resident in the Scottish Highlands. Anonymized questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 2000 older people (≥60 years) resident in the Scottish Highlands. Questionnaire items were: access and convenience to GP and pharmacy services (10 items); prescribed medicines (13 items); attitudinal statements based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (12 items); quality of life (SF8, 8 items); and demographics (12 items). Results were analysed using descriptive, inferential and spatial statistics, and principal component analysis (PCA) of attitudinal items. With a response rate of 54.2%, the majority reported convenient access to GPs (89.1%) and community pharmacies (84.3%). Older age respondents (p < 0.0001) were more likely to state that their access to GP services was not convenient and those in rural areas to community pharmacies (p < 0.01). For access to prescribed medicines, those in poorer health (p < 0.001) and taking five or more regular prescribed medicines (p = 0.002) were more likely to state access not convenient. PCA identified three components of beliefs of capabilities, emotions and memory. Those with poorer health had more negative scores for all (p < 0.001). Those reporting issues of access to prescribed medicines had more negative scores for beliefs of capabilities (p < 0.001) while those of older age, living alone, and taking five or more regular prescribed medicines (all p < 0.001) had more negative scores for emotions. In conclusion, while the majority of respondents have convenient access to their GP practice, pharmacy and prescribed medicines, there is a need for further review of the pharmaceutical care of those of older age with poorer health, living alone in the more remote and rural areas and taking five or more prescribed medicines.

Citation

RUSHWORTH, G.F., CUNNINGHAM, S., PFLEGER, S., HALL, J. and STEWART, D. 2017. A cross-sectional survey of the access of older people in the Scottish Highlands to general medical practices, community pharmacies and prescription medicines. Research in social and administrative pharmacy [online], 14(1), pages 76-85. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2017.01.002

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 22, 2017
Online Publication Date Jan 25, 2017
Publication Date Jan 31, 2018
Deposit Date Apr 6, 2017
Publicly Available Date Jan 26, 2018
Journal Research in social and administrative pharmacy
Print ISSN 1551-7411
Electronic ISSN 1934-8150
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 14
Issue 1
Pages 76-85
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2017.01.002
Keywords Rural health services; Access; Convenience; Prescription drugs; Questionnaire
Public URL http://hdl.handle.net/10059/2256
Contract Date Apr 6, 2017

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