Views and experiences of community pharmacy team members on antimicrobial stewardship activities in Scotland: a qualitative study.

Tonna, Antonella Pia; Weidmann, Anita Elaine; Sneddon, Jacqueline; Stewart, Derek

Abstract

Background: It has been acknowledged and recognised internationally that the community pharmacy team has a major role to play in antimicrobial stewardship programmes, particularly regarding patient engagement. However, there is a paucity of published research on community pharmacy-based activities in antimicrobial stewardship, and views and perceptions of the community pharmacy team on their role in antimicrobial stewardship. Objective: To explore views and experiences of community pharmacy teams across Scotland on antimicrobial stewardship, activities related to European Antibiotic Awareness Day, and a self-help guide to treating infection. Setting: Community pharmacy, Scotland. Method: Qualitative, semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of community pharmacy team members over a six week period between November and December in 2016. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and data analysed thematically using the framework approach. Main outcome measure: Views and perceptions of antimicrobial stewardship and European Antibiotic Awareness Day activities and role of the pharmacy team. Results: Twenty-seven participants were interviewed - 20 pharmacists, five pharmacy graduates completing their pre-registration year, and members of the pharmacy support team including two pharmacy technicians and one medicines counter assistant. They were working mainly in urban areas and across five regions of Scotland. Most were aware of antimicrobial stewardship but some were not familiar with the term. Participants identified roles for the community pharmacy team in antimicrobial stewardship including the importance of the pharmacy as a first port of call for self-care advice. Some participants, including pharmacists, showed lack of awareness of European Antibiotic Awareness Day; those who were aware thought it may not have the desired impact on educating the public. Most participants, irrespective of role within the team, were not familiar with the self-help guide but they perceived this as a useful resource for the pharmacy team. Conclusion: The participants recognised and identified roles for the community pharmacist within antimicrobial stewardship. However, the lack of awareness of European Antibiotic Awareness Day shows a need for European Antibiotic Awareness Day tools and other materials to be more effectively disseminated and for more training to be provided.

Citation

TONNA, A.P., WEIDMANN, A.E., SNEDDON, J. and STEWART, D. 2020. Views and experiences of community pharmacy team members on antimicrobial stewardship activities in Scotland: a qualitative study. International journal of clinical pharmacy [online], 42(5), pages 1261-1269. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-020-01042-z

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 16, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Aug 16, 2020
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2020
• Deposit Date: Aug 13, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 13, 2020
• Journal: International journal of clinical pharmacy
• Print ISSN: 2210-7703
• Electronic ISSN: 2210-7711
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1261-1269
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-020-01042-z
• Keywords: Antimicrobial stewardship; Community pharmacy; Qualitative methods; European antibiotic awareness day; Scotland
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/944199