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- Page navigation anchor for GPs’ and pharmacists’ views of integrating pharmacists into general practices: a qualitative study. Response to letter from RahmaniGPs’ and pharmacists’ views of integrating pharmacists into general practices: a qualitative study. Response to letter from RahmaniWe are grateful for the opportunity to respond to the comments on our paper. Ms. Rahmani has indicated that ‘…the article lacks a clear description of the interview process and subsequent data analysis. Although the researchers mention the use of semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, specific details regarding the interview questions and analytical steps remain undisclosed’. We were somewhat constrained by the word limit imposed by the Journal which meant that we had to be selective about the amount of detail we could provide on all aspects of the research. However, we would direct the reader to the supplementary files which accompanied the paper. These files provide copies of the complete topic guides that were used in the interviews, along with a summary of how we established trustworthiness during the study. We also followed and completed the COREQ (COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research) checklist when reporting the research. This checklist ensures explicit and comprehensive reporting of qualitative studies, including all aspects of methodology. We agree that there needs to be more research on the implications of working arrangements for pharmacists in general practice and patients’ awareness of this new and evolving pharmacist role in primary care.Competing Interests: None declared.
- Page navigation anchor for GPs’ and pharmacists’ views of integrating pharmacists into general practices: a qualitative studyGPs’ and pharmacists’ views of integrating pharmacists into general practices: a qualitative study
I read with interest the recent article by Ibrahim et al. titled " GPs’ and pharmacists’ views of integrating pharmacists into general practices: a qualitative study " published in the British Journal of General Practice, they skilfully investigated the perspectives of GPs, PBPs, and community pharmacists (CPs) regarding the integration of PBPs into general practice and its influence on the delivery of primary healthcare.1
Despite my interest to the result of this paper, the article lacks a clear description of the interview process and subsequent data analysis. Although the researchers mention the use of semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, specific details regarding the interview questions and analytical steps remain undisclosed. This lack of transparency impedes readers' ability to evaluate the rigor of the study. To foster a more comprehensive understanding and improve the study's reproducibility, the authors should provide a more detailed explanation of the interview process and the procedures employed for data analysis.
There is a need to explore patients' understanding of the pharmacist's role in general practice to corroborate the concerns raised by the participants. Further research should focus on investigating patients' awareness and perceptions of the pharmacist's role and how this impacts their utilization of pharmacist services.2,3
The article sugges...
Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for Reduction in rural older patients’ readmission with the collaboration with PBPReduction in rural older patients’ readmission with the collaboration with PBP
I have read, with great respect, the research titled “GPs’ and pharmacists’ views of integrating pharmacists into general practices: a qualitative study.”1 This study shows that through the improvement of the understanding of practice-based pharmacists (PBP), PBPs were facilitated to work well and improve the quality of primary care in primary care. Besides, in practical situations, GPs and pharmacists realized PBP's usefulness for their practice's effectiveness. The continuous provision of PBPs in primary care can broaden the range of healthcare collaboration in communities, driving effective interprofessional collaboration. Their role can be critical in rural primary care.
PBP can enhance rural prevention of older patients’ hospital admission, leading to a better quality of care. PBP can be one of the vital healthcare workers in rural interprofessional collaboration (IPC) regarding medication issues. One of the rural IPC challenges is polypharmacy and multimorbidity. In rural settings, polypharmacy and multimorbidity are related to older people's hospital readmission and increase their mortality and morbidity.2,3 Rural healthcare professionals struggle to manage the issue because of the lack of healthcare resources. PBPs can manage each primary care patient’s polypharmacy conditions and mitigate other healthcare professionals’ difficulties, improving rural healthcare....
Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for Interprofessional education advances GP-Pharmacist care to meet patient needsInterprofessional education advances GP-Pharmacist care to meet patient needs
Early interprofessional education can prepare family physicians/GPs and pharmacists to work effectively together in primary care. We documented the long-term impact of our Interprofessional Course on primary care knowledge, attitudes, and career placements. This 10-week classroom course positively influenced dentists, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants, social workers, and public health professionals. Five years out, more students worked in primary care, provided PC patient care, and served vulnerable communities.
This was not a course about interprofessional care. It was an interprofessional course about primary care. Students embraced the commitment to create teams to meet patient and community needs, not fit professional identities or advance academic agendas.
We agree with the authors’ call for integrating the views of patients and communities in interprofessional education and practice.
Reference
1. Phillips WR, Keys T. Interprofessional Primary Care Course Impact on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Careers. Fam Med 2022;54(9):722-728. https://doi.org/10.22454/FamMed.2022.167204.
Competing Interests: None declared.