Jill K. Jesson

Public health and pharmacy: A critical review

Community pharmacy in the UK is often described as the most accessible of all primary healthcare providers, situated on the ‘high street’ and requiring no appointment. But what does the new public health movement mean for pharmacy, and where is pharmacy in terms of the new public health agenda? In this paper, the authors provide a critical assessment of pharmacys response to this agenda through a review of key pharmacy relevant policy documents. In particular, in the context of pharmacys re-professionalization agenda, they assess the contribution of pharmacy to public health from a micro- and macro-level framework. The aim is to provide a critical context in light of current proposals for the profession to develop a public health strategy.

How to do (or not to do) a critical literature review

More and more students are required to perform a critical literature review as part of their undergraduate or postgraduate studies. Whilst most of the latest research methods textbooks advise how to do a literature search, very few cover the literature review. This paper covers two types of review: a critical literature review and a systematic review.

Cross-sectional studies in prescribing research.

A cross‐sectional study aims to describe the overall picture of a phenomenon, a situational problem, an attitude or an issue, by asking a cross‐section of a given population at one specified moment in time. This paper describes the key features of the cross‐sectional survey method. It begins by highlighting the main principles of the method, then discusses stages in the research process, drawing on two surveys of primary care pharmacists to illustrate some salient points about planning, sampling frames, definition and conceptual issues, research instrument design and response rates. Four constraints in prescribing studies were noted. First the newness of the subject meant a low basis of existing knowledge to design a questionnaire. Second, there was no public existing database for the sampling frame, so a pragmatic sampling exercise was used. Third, the definition of a Primary Care Pharmacist (PCP) [in full] and respondents recognition of that name and identification with the new role limited the response. Fourth, a growing problem for all surveys, but particularly with pharmacists and general practitioners (GP) [in full] is the growing danger of survey fatigue, which has a negative impact on response levels.

Ethnic minority consumers of community pharmaceutical services

A survey carried out by the authors in the West Midlands area of England found that use of, and access to, community pharmaceutical services appeared to be lower among ethnic minority customers than in the majority population, although their needs were probably higher. The survey has been published in full elsewhere. In this article, the authors summarise the main results of their survey, and compare these with the results from a similar study involving respondents predominantly from the white population. They also discuss some of the methodological difficulties in carrying out research into ethnic minority health issues.

Working women in the sex industry and their perception of risk from HIV/AIDS

The present research project provided women who are normally marginalized by society with an opportunity to give their opinions on health matters that are directly related to their working and personal lives. Discussion groups were held with women working in saunas or massage parlors (the sex industry) to obtain their views on sexual health and the risk of infection from the human immunodeficiency virus. The sauna workers said they have less chance of becoming infected than women not working in the sex industry, because they are very careful about their activities in the sauna. The women were very concerned about their children and wanted information to give to their children rather than for themselves. Although these women used condoms at work, they said they were reluctant to use condoms in their social relationships because of the association with work.

The New UK Research Governance: its Impact on Pharmacy Undergraduate Research Projects*

Implementation of the Department of Health Research Governance Framework (RGF) in the United Kingdom has major implications for the conduct of pharmacy practice undergraduate research projects. This paper draws upon a survey of local ethics research committees (LRECs) in the greater Birmingham area to identify the issues that arise from the RGF in relation to non-clinical practice research in community pharmacy. Although there is some evidence of minor differences between LRECs, the overwhelming finding is that projects will be subject to the full force of the RGF. The implications are discussed in relation to specific issues relating to non-clinical research, the professional aspirations for a research capable workforce, and the expertise within pharmacy to meet the current accreditation requirements for undergraduate projects.

Dispensing activity in a community pharmacy-based repeat dispensing pilot project

Objective To measure changes in dispensing activity in a UK repeat dispensing pilot study and to estimate any associated cost savings.

Evaluation of a new health centre pharmacy: a case study

Background — This case study describes the evaluation of a primary care intervention in the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, arising from the decision to move a medical practice from its town location into a new health centre in a nearby village. The new centre incorporated a new community pharmacy within the practice.

Tuesday 27 September

There has been animated debate within the academic pharmacy profession about the balance in teaching of science and practice. Five years ago a consultation of all schools of pharmacy (SOP) on the core curriculum, which explored the balance between science aspects and professional career aspects in the undergraduate course, found that most (74%) respondents thought the balance was about right. This paper reports on student attitudes to their course, from a study of teaching, learning and assessment (TLA) in UK pharmacy undergraduate programmes. The aim of the TLA survey was to document final year pharmacy undergraduate attitudes and experiences on a range of teaching, learning and assessment issues.

Research has had little influence on the development of pharmacy practice

The final plenary session at the 2002 Health Services Research and Pharmacy Practice Conference at Leeds, England, took the form of a formal debate on the topic “Research has had little influence on the development of pharmacy practice.” The proposers were two non‐pharmacists, with considerable experience of health services research and pharmacy practice research, and the opposers were two leading pharmacists, one a hospital pharmacist and one an advocate for community pharmacy. We present here an edited version of the debate.