Pharmacists' perceptions regarding optimization of antibiotic prescribing in the community
Background and Objective: The overuse of antibiotics in the community is a primary cause of antibiotic resistance. Community pharmacists are the most accessible health professionals and so they are in an ideal position to implement interventions to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics. This stu...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
2017
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53395 |
| _version_ | 1848759133917937664 |
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| author | Res, R. Hoti, Kreshnik Charrois, T. |
| author_facet | Res, R. Hoti, Kreshnik Charrois, T. |
| author_sort | Res, R. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background and Objective: The overuse of antibiotics in the community is a primary cause of antibiotic resistance. Community pharmacists are the most accessible health professionals and so they are in an ideal position to implement interventions to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics. This study aimed to explore the role of community pharmacists in the optimization of antibiotic prescribing and utilization. Method: Four focus groups were conducted with community pharmacists in Perth, Western Australia. Audio-recorded data were compared with field notes, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Results: There were twenty-four participants in four focus group sessions. Four main themes were identified: patient perceptions and behaviors, prescribing behaviors, pharmacists' roles and responsibilities, and health care system interventions in relation to antibiotic utilization. A number of interventions that could be implemented by community pharmacists were identified. In addition to interventions that are currently in place in Australia, forward dispensing, improved interprofessional collaboration, an expansion of current prescribing role, and vaccination capabilities were also suggested. Conclusions: This study indicated that current scope of pharmacists' roles has room for more intervention strategies aimed at improving antibiotic prescribing and utilization in the community. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:55:03Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-53395 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:55:03Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-533952017-09-13T16:11:53Z Pharmacists' perceptions regarding optimization of antibiotic prescribing in the community Res, R. Hoti, Kreshnik Charrois, T. Background and Objective: The overuse of antibiotics in the community is a primary cause of antibiotic resistance. Community pharmacists are the most accessible health professionals and so they are in an ideal position to implement interventions to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics. This study aimed to explore the role of community pharmacists in the optimization of antibiotic prescribing and utilization. Method: Four focus groups were conducted with community pharmacists in Perth, Western Australia. Audio-recorded data were compared with field notes, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Results: There were twenty-four participants in four focus group sessions. Four main themes were identified: patient perceptions and behaviors, prescribing behaviors, pharmacists' roles and responsibilities, and health care system interventions in relation to antibiotic utilization. A number of interventions that could be implemented by community pharmacists were identified. In addition to interventions that are currently in place in Australia, forward dispensing, improved interprofessional collaboration, an expansion of current prescribing role, and vaccination capabilities were also suggested. Conclusions: This study indicated that current scope of pharmacists' roles has room for more intervention strategies aimed at improving antibiotic prescribing and utilization in the community. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53395 10.1177/0897190015623883 restricted |
| spellingShingle | Res, R. Hoti, Kreshnik Charrois, T. Pharmacists' perceptions regarding optimization of antibiotic prescribing in the community |
| title | Pharmacists' perceptions regarding optimization of antibiotic prescribing in the community |
| title_full | Pharmacists' perceptions regarding optimization of antibiotic prescribing in the community |
| title_fullStr | Pharmacists' perceptions regarding optimization of antibiotic prescribing in the community |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pharmacists' perceptions regarding optimization of antibiotic prescribing in the community |
| title_short | Pharmacists' perceptions regarding optimization of antibiotic prescribing in the community |
| title_sort | pharmacists' perceptions regarding optimization of antibiotic prescribing in the community |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53395 |