Care of the stroke patient-communication between the community pharmacist and prescribers in the Republic of Ireland.
Grimes, Tamasine Duggan, Catherine Gallagher, Paul Strawbridge, Judith
Grimes, Tamasine
Duggan, Catherine
Gallagher, Paul
Strawbridge, Judith
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Date
2012-02-01T10:48:47Z
Date Submitted
Keywords
Other Subjects
Subject Mesh
Attitude of Health Personnel
*Community Pharmacy Services
Family Practice
Health Care Surveys
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
*Interdisciplinary Communication
Ireland
Medical Staff, Hospital
*Patient Care Team
Perception
*Pharmacists
*Physician's Role
Postal Service
Primary Health Care
*Professional Role
Questionnaires
Stroke/*drug therapy
*Community Pharmacy Services
Family Practice
Health Care Surveys
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
*Interdisciplinary Communication
Ireland
Medical Staff, Hospital
*Patient Care Team
Perception
*Pharmacists
*Physician's Role
Postal Service
Primary Health Care
*Professional Role
Questionnaires
Stroke/*drug therapy
Planned Date
Start Date
Collaborators
Principal Investigators
Alternative Titles
Publisher
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study sought to examine the perceptions that community pharmacists have of communication with prescribers in both primary and secondary care in Ireland, with respect to care of stroke patients. SETTING: Community pharmacies across Ireland, stratified into the four representative administrative regions. METHOD: Survey using a structured postal questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Perceptions of communication with prescribers based in primary and secondary care; pharmacy and pharmacy premises demographics. RESULTS: A response rate of 52% (n = 314) was achieved. Community pharmacists' perceptions of information provision from secondary care were low, the majority (83%) never received any information from the hospital, although they would welcome it. Communication with hospital based prescribers was considered by most (93%) to be poor. The majority (greater than 75%) of respondents expressed a desire for greater information provision concerning a stroke patient's medication and diagnostic information. Pharmacists' perceptions of interaction with general practitioners were generally regarded as good (63%) although information provision in both directions between pharmacist and general practitioner could be improved. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicated that community pharmacists perceive that there is room for improvement in the communication between themselves and prescribers in the primary and secondary care settings, concerning the care of the stroke patient. This highlights the need for the development of formal communication channels between community pharmacists and other members of the healthcare team involved in the care of the stroke patient. However, the challenges of communicating patient information across healthcare sectors are recognized.
Language
eng
ISSN
1573-739X (Electronic)
0928-1231 (Linking)
0928-1231 (Linking)
eISSN
ISBN
DOI
10.1007/s11096-009-9322-z
PMID
19757142