A qualitative study of the perspectives of older people in remote Scotland on accessibility to healthcare, medicines and medicines-taking.

Stewart, Derek; Gibson-Smith, Katherine; Cunningham, Scott; Pfleger, Sharon; Rushworth, Gordon

Abstract

Background: Recent evidence highlights the disproportionate rates of health inequality often experienced within remote and rural communities. Access to medicines within remote and rural communities may also prove problematic. Objective: The aim was to understand the perspectives of older people in the most remote areas of the Scottish Highlands on issues of accessibility to healthcare, medicines and medicines-taking. Method: Qualitative, semi-structured one-to-one interviews with 13 residents aged 65 years and over in the most remote and rural areas of the Scottish Highlands. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using a framework approach. Setting: Remote and rural areas in the Scottish Highlands. Participants had previously completed a cross-sectional survey. Main outcome measure: Themes surrounding the perspectives of older people in the most remote areas of the Scottish Highlands on issues of accessibility to healthcare, medicines and medicines-taking. Results: Healthcare was considered convenient, and positive relationships with providers being important. Review of medicines was perceived to be the remit of the doctor, with pharmacists seen as valuable suppliers of medicines. Conclusion: Based on this qualitative study, experiences of access to healthcare, including community pharmacy, medicines and medicines-taking within this sample of older adults resident in the most remote areas of the Scottish Highlands are widely variable. There may be an unmet educational need, amongst residents, with regard to awareness of the role of pharmacists, the services they can provide and the benefits which may be experienced as a consequence of engagement.

Citation

STEWART, D., GIBSON-SMITH, K., CUNNINGHAM, S., PFLEGER, S and RUSHWORTH, G. 2018. A qualitative study of the perspectives of older people in remote Scotland on accessibility to healthcare, medicines and medicines-taking. International journal of clinical pharmacy [online], 40(5), pages 1300-1308. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-018-0684-y

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 29, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jul 9, 2018
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jul 17, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 17, 2018
• Journal: International journal of clinical pharmacy
• Print ISSN: 2210-7703
• Electronic ISSN: 2210-7711
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1300-1308
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-018-0684-y
• Keywords: Access to healthcare; Convenience; Interview study; Rural health services; Scotland
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/2999