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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Charlotte RichardsonORCiD, Dr Laura LindseyORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Objectives: There are approximately 5.3 million informal carers in the United Kingdom, many of whom support family in their health despite being unpaid and often unsupported. Many visit pharmacies to collect medicines and look for advice. This work explores informal carer support within community pharmacies (CP). Methods: Semi-structured video interviews exploring perspectives on the role of CP in supporting carers were conducted in autumn 2022. The study received institutional ethical approval. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a reflexive thematic approach. Key findings: In total 25 interviews were conducted with 13 carers and 12 pharmacy staff. Three themes were identified:-What support do carers need through CP?—medicines management, navigating services, and carers health and wellbeing.-Barriers to CP better supporting carers—relationships with CP, carer needs, identification as a ‘carer’.-Enablers to CP better supporting carers—support is a team effort, and CP as a community ‘hub’. Conclusions: There is a trusted relationships between carers and pharmacy staff which can contribute to establishing pharmacies as a safe space of support, this includes medicines-specific support and navigating services, but also carer health and wellbeing support. Pharmacy staff may need to reconsider approaches to identifying and supporting carers and not just treating them as an extension of supporting a patient. In making this support accessible, relationships with pharmacy staff are important, as well as embracing CP as a ‘community hub’, although pharmacy staff may need training and information to facilitate them in this role.
Author(s): Richardson CL, Edwards E, Lunny J, Lindsey L
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Journal of Pharmacy Practice
Year: 2024
Volume: 32
Issue: 3
Pages: 201-207
Print publication date: 01/06/2024
Online publication date: 23/02/2024
Acceptance date: 31/01/2024
Date deposited: 30/05/2024
ISSN (print): 0961-7671
ISSN (electronic): 2042-7174
Publisher: Oxford University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpp/riae005
DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riae005
Data Access Statement: Authors collected and had access to all data throughout the study. The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.
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