Diabetes related communications in community pharmacy : reflections on the findings from a feasibility study

Featherstone, VA; Haigh, N; Campion, P; Edmondson, H; Tee, KH; Innes, A

Abstract

Aims: To assess the feasibility of keeping a log of diabetes-related
communication in a community pharmacy and to explore the
potential of the logs to reflect diabetes-related communications
within pharmacies.
Design: A reflective log-keeping exercise in community pharmacies
(duration, four weeks) of any diabetes-related communication
taking place between pharmacy staff and their service users,
and any signposting made to and from other relevant health
professionals.
Subjects and setting: Nine community pharmacy branches of the Independent
Pharmacy Care Centres PLC based in Hull, East Yorkshire
and North & North East Lincolnshire.
Outcome measures: A description of the form and nature of diabetes-related communication.
Feedback on the practicalities of keeping the log.
Results: Twenty-two communications were logged; 21 involved direct
face-to-face contact and one log involved a telephone conversation.
Two-thirds of the communications involved conversations
with patients with diabetes, one-third were with a
partner/family member. The conversations captured fell into
five categories: sugar-free medicines, blood glucose testing
meters, prescription medicines, diabetes-specific education/
information, and an unclassified category. The logs demonstrated
that communications can involve all members of the
staff team, working independently or jointly across roles in
the pharmacy.
Conclusion: Community pharmacies were actively involved in providing
diabetes-health-related information/education and support.
Communications involved directly assisting people with diabetes
and providing information to people supporting others
with a diagnosis of diabetes. We propose that the logs provide
a valuable means of acquiring information about the form and
nature of diabetes-related communication and signposting
within community pharmacy.

Citation

Featherstone, V., Haigh, N., Campion, P., Edmondson, H., Tee, K., & Innes, A. Diabetes related communications in community pharmacy : reflections on the findings from a feasibility study. Poster presented at Health Services Research & Pharmacy Practice Conference, School of Pharmacy, Keele University

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: Health Services Research & Pharmacy Practice Conference
• Conference Location: School of Pharmacy, Keele University
• End Date: Apr 3, 2007
• Online Publication Date: Feb 18, 2010
• Publication Date: Apr 3, 2007
• Deposit Date: Aug 17, 2010
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1211/096176707781607143
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1211/096176707781607143
• Related Public URLs: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20427174; http://pharmacyresearchuk.org/training-and-events/health-services-research-pharmacy-practice/past-conference/
• Additional Information: Access Information : The published version of this poster abstract can be accessed using the link above.; Event Type : Conference