Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Providing pharmacy services to care homes in Northern Ireland: a survey of community pharmacists’ views

  • Published:
Pharmacy World and Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to explore the views of community pharmacists as to their present and potential role in providing care to the residents of nursing and residential home in Northern Ireland.

Method: A structured questionnaire was developed and mailed to all community pharmacists in Northern Ireland (n = 508) on 2 occasions.

Results: A response rate of 50% was achieved. Over 40% of responding pharmacists (42.1%) were currently providing medication-related services to care homes for the elderly and 57.9% were not. Of those who were providing services, 50 to 80% were already providing advice to care homes regarding record-keeping, compliance devices, storage and administration of medicines and the use of more appropriate formulations. More than 75% of pharmacists who were not providing services to care homes for the elderly supported all services detailed in a checklist provided on the questionnaire. For pharmacists who were providing services to care homes, 89% agreed that they required access to an up-to-date medical history of care home residents. Over 60% of pharmacists who worked with care homes had experienced difficulties when ordering prescriptions from general practice surgeries. Just over 75% of all respondents stated that they wanted to be more involved in providing pharmaceutical services to care homes to the elderly.

Conclusion: Community pharmacists expressed enthusiasm for provision of services to care home residents. On-going developments in community pharmacy practice in the UK may facilitate the development of this role and may guide policy development for long-term care in other countries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Greengross S, Murphy E, Quam L, Rochon P, Smith R. Aging: a subject that must be at the top of the world agendas. BMJ 1997; 315: 1029–30.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wittenberg R, Pickard L, Comas-Herrera A, Davies B, Darton R. Demand for long-term care: projections of long-term care finance for elderly people. Canterbury, UK: Personal Social Services Research Unit, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Jacobzone S. Coping with aging: International challenges. Health Affairs 2000; 19: 213–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Institute of Medicine. Improving the quality of care in nursing homes. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Braithwaite J. The challenge of regulating care for older people in Australia. BMJ 2001; 323: 443–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Schmidt I, Claesson CB, Westerholm B, Nilsson LG, Svarstad BL The impact of regular multidisciplinary team interventions on psychotropic prescribing in Swedish nursing homes. J Am Geriatr Soc 1998; 46: 77–82.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Klein B, Cook A. Concepts of quality in residential care and nursing homes: UK and German perspectives. Health Care Later Life 1998; 3: 47–57.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Nolan L, O’Malley K. The need for a more rational approach to drug prescribing for elderly people in nursing homes. Age Ageing 1989; 18: 52–6.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hughes CM, Lapane KL, Mor V. Impact of legislation on nursing home care in the United States: lessons for the United Kingdom. BMJ 1999; 319: 1060–2.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Stokes JA. Introducing clinical pharmacy as a quality use of medicines intervention in residential aged care [dissertation]. Brisbane, Australia: University of Queensland, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Smith MA, Simpson JM, Benrimoj SI. General practitioner acceptance of medication review in Sydney nursing homes. J Pharm Pract Res 2002; 32: 227–31.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Tarn YH, Chou SF, Wang TY. Drug regimen review at nursing homes in Taiwan. Int Pharm World Congress 2002; 62: 78.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hendrichs J, Hovel G, Lohbreier-Dorr J, Pardieck A, Puteanus U. Drug supply to nursing homes for the aged. Gesundheitswesen 2001; 63: 514–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Spong L. Role of the pharmacist in nursing homes in northern Europe. Pharm J 1992; 249: 23–5.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Taylor B, Rihal D, Iles C. Nursing homes – an inspector calls or a pharmacist visits. Pharm J 1995; 254: 367.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Royal College of Physicans, Royal College of Nursing, and British Geriatrics Society. The health and care of older people in care homes – a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach.London: Royal College of Physicians, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Schweizer AK, Hughes CM. Nursing and residential care for the elderly in Northern Ireland: the contribution of the pharmacist. Pharm World Sci 2001; 23: 195–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Hughes CM, Lapane KL. The drive for quality care in US nursing homes in the era of the Prospective Payment System. Drugs Aging 2002; 19: 623–31.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hughes GF, McElnay JC, Hughes CM, McKenna P. Abuse/misuse of non-prescription drugs. Pharm World Sci 1999; 21: 251-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Smith F. Survey Research: (1) Design, samples and response. Int J Pharm Pract 1997; 5: 152–66.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Edwards P, Roberts I, Clarke M, DiGuiseppi C, Pratap S, Wentz R, Kwan I. Increasing response rates to postal questionnaires. BMJ 2002; 324: 1183–91.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Furniss L, Lloyd Craig SK, Burns A. Medication use in nursing homes for elderly people. Int J Geriatric Psych 1998; 13: 433–9.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). The administration and control of medicines in care homes and children’s homes. London: RPSGB, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Morrision D, O’Kane SMA, Timoney M. Managing your medicine – a pharmacy service in Northern Ireland. Pharm J 2001; 267: 556–7.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Northern Health and Social Services Board. Policy for the control and administration of medicines in nursing, residential and children’s homes. Ballymena, UK: Northern Health and Social Services Board (NHSSB), 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Bellingham C. Repeat dispensing schemes get going. Pharm J 2003; 271: 640.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hepler CD, Strand LM. Opportunities and responsibilities in pharmaceutical care. Am J Hosp Pharm 1990; 47: 533–43.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). Pharmacists – a vital contribution to the new NHS. London: RPSGB, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Fahey T, Montgomery AA, Barnes J, Protheroe J. Quality of care for elderly residents in nursing homes and elderly people living at home: controlled observational study. BMJ 2003; 326: 580–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Hughes CM, McCann S. Perceived interprofessional barriers between community pharmacists and general practitioners: a qualitative assessment. Br J Gen Pract 2003; 53: 600–6.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Department of Health. Pharmacy in the future – implementing the NHS Plan. A programme for pharmacy in the National Health Service. London: The Stationery Office, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland

    Anna K. Schweizer

  2. The School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland

    Carmel M. Hughes

Authors
  1. Anna K. Schweizer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carmel M. Hughes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schweizer, A.K., Hughes, C.M. Providing pharmacy services to care homes in Northern Ireland: a survey of community pharmacists’ views. Pharm World Sci 26, 346–352 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-004-1409-y

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-004-1409-y

Search

Navigation