Lived experiences of Turkish community pharmacists toward person-centric care: a qualitative analysis

ABSTRACT

Background:

In Turkey, the SMART pharmacist program was launched to enable community pharmacists to deliver patient-centric care services. However, how far this programme has achieved success and what are the challenges faced by the programme need to be evaluated.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore the experiences of community pharmacists in providing person-centric care services in pharmacies and provide recommendations for improved care effectiveness.

Methods:

A phenomenological approach was adopted in this study. To conduct qualitative interviews, a semi-structured interview guide was devised to gather insights from the pharmacists. The interviews were coded verbatim. Subsequently, various themes and sub-themes were developed based on the aim and objectives of the study. A total of 14 pharmacists engaged in semi-structured interviews conducted between May and August 2023.

Results:

Two main themes emerged from the data: challenges in person-centric care and recommendations to improve person-centric care. Barriers were subdivided into patient-related challenges and personal challenges. Recommendations consisted of pharmacists’ professional tasks and recommendations.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study, suggest that the concerned healthcare authorities should re-evaluate the ‘SMART pharmacist’ program in Turkey and address professional and personal challenges faced by community pharmacists in delivering effective person-centric care. Pharmacists recommend patient follow-up (follow-ups), providing a counselling environment, collaboration with physicians, expansion of pharmacy services.

IMPACTS ON PRACTICE

• Raising awareness among pharmacists can be achieved through initiatives like the ‘SMART Pharmacist Program’, aimed at enhancing the provision of person-centric pharmaceutical care to patients.

• Government policies may be required revision to community pharmacists greater authority.

• Academic institutions could contemplate revising the existing pharmacy education curriculum to emphasise person-centric pharmacy education.

• Likewise, professional organisations may need to reevaluate the continuing professional development prerequisites for community pharmacists.

KEYWORDS:

• Person-centric care
• community pharmacist
• public health
• pharmacy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elif Ulutas Deniz

Dr. Elif Ulutas Deniz is currently working as an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Management in Turkey. She continues her studies on pharmacy practice, pharmacy education and communication in pharmacy and is an academic pharmacist with 10 years of experience in this field. Her research interests include community pharmacy practice and social and administrative pharmacy.

Muhammad Kamran Rasheed

Dr Muhammad Kamran Rasheed is a practicing clinical pharmacist, academic and healthcare services researcher, with 20 years of diverse experience in professional teaching, quality assurance in higher education, healthcare research and hospital practice in the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. His research interests include community pharmacy practice, social and administrative pharmacy, 4IR in pharmacy practice, quality use of medicines, pharmacoepidemiology, and antibiotic stewardship.

Rumeysa Eren

Rumeysa Eren is working as a research assistant in the Department of Pharmacy Management in Turkey. She continues her studies on pharmacy practice and communication in pharmacy.

Hatice Gözeler

Hatice Gözeler is a student of pharmacy faculty. She is working on pharmacy practice.