Search Advanced

AIMS Public Health

2018, Volume 5, Issue 2: 189-202. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2018.2.189
Previous Article Next Article
Research article

Community pharmacists’ attitudes towards patient leaflets: Exploring perceptions underlying an electronic local production of tailored written information

  • Department of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
  • Received: 23 February 2018 Accepted: 19 June 2018 Published: 25 June 2018

  • Introduction: Low health literacy in Portugal, revealed by limited patients’ knowledge of their medication, may be improved by written information that is individually tailored for each patient. Tailored content can be produced through computer software and delivered by community pharmacies to patients. Objective: To assess community pharmacists’ real-life management, usage and perceived utility of software developed to produce individually tailored patient leaflets at community pharmacies. Methods: The software contained five different pharmacist-selected clinical information fields which allows for the adjustment of information to each patient’s information needs. Using an exploratory study design, community pharmacists’ perceptions were purposively selected and qualitatively assessed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and iteratively coded using a thematic approach outlined by attitudinal theory. Results: Eight participants took part in the study. Emerging codes led to the construction of two main themes: Current PLs usage in Portuguese community pharmacy; and Tailored PLs usage in Portuguese community pharmacy. Pharmacists exhibited a generally positive attitude concerning the relevance and use of patient leaflets to address individual patient’s information needs, including an improvement in health literacy. The model was considered effective, functional, satisfying and user-friendly. Conclusion: Although additional studies are needed, the introduction of a leaflet-tailoring software in Portuguese community pharmacies seems to be feasible as an additional resource to improve the quality of patient information and counselling. The next research steps should address the impact on patients’ medicines-related information, including the level to which patients are able to correctly interpret the information and to adjust accordingly their health behaviours. Practice implications: The software fits present community pharmacy practice and routines, bringing advantages to pharmacists’ willingness to deliver meaningful written information to patients, thus contributing to improved patient health literacy.

    Citation: Catarina Vitor, Afonso Cavaco. Community pharmacists’ attitudes towards patient leaflets: Exploring perceptions underlying an electronic local production of tailored written information[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2018, 5(2): 189-202. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2018.2.189

    Related Papers:

  • Introduction: Low health literacy in Portugal, revealed by limited patients’ knowledge of their medication, may be improved by written information that is individually tailored for each patient. Tailored content can be produced through computer software and delivered by community pharmacies to patients. Objective: To assess community pharmacists’ real-life management, usage and perceived utility of software developed to produce individually tailored patient leaflets at community pharmacies. Methods: The software contained five different pharmacist-selected clinical information fields which allows for the adjustment of information to each patient’s information needs. Using an exploratory study design, community pharmacists’ perceptions were purposively selected and qualitatively assessed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and iteratively coded using a thematic approach outlined by attitudinal theory. Results: Eight participants took part in the study. Emerging codes led to the construction of two main themes: Current PLs usage in Portuguese community pharmacy; and Tailored PLs usage in Portuguese community pharmacy. Pharmacists exhibited a generally positive attitude concerning the relevance and use of patient leaflets to address individual patient’s information needs, including an improvement in health literacy. The model was considered effective, functional, satisfying and user-friendly. Conclusion: Although additional studies are needed, the introduction of a leaflet-tailoring software in Portuguese community pharmacies seems to be feasible as an additional resource to improve the quality of patient information and counselling. The next research steps should address the impact on patients’ medicines-related information, including the level to which patients are able to correctly interpret the information and to adjust accordingly their health behaviours. Practice implications: The software fits present community pharmacy practice and routines, bringing advantages to pharmacists’ willingness to deliver meaningful written information to patients, thus contributing to improved patient health literacy.


    加载中
    [1] Espanha R, Ávila P (2016) Health literacy survey Portugal: A contribution for the knowledge on health and communications. Procedia Comput Sci 100: 1033–1041. doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2016.09.277
    [2] World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, Health literacy-The solid facts, 2013. Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/190655/e96854.pdf.
    [3] Antunes L, Gomes J, Cavaco A (2015) How pharmacist-patient communication determines pharmacy loyalty? Modeling relevant factors. Res Soc Adm Pharm 11: 560–570.
    [4] American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (1997) ASHP guidelines on pharmacist-conducted patient education and counseling. Am J Heal Pharm 54: 431–434.
    [5] Rantucci M (2007) Tailoring counseling to meet individual patient needs and overcome challenges, In: Rantucci M, Pharmacists talking with patients: A guide to patient counseling, 2 Eds., Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 192–234.
    [6] Kukafka R (2005) Tailored Health Communication, In: Lewis D, Eysenbach G, Kukafka R, et al., Consumer Health Informatics-Informing Consumers and Improving Health Care, 1 Ed., New York: Springer, 22–33.
    [7] Skinner C, Campbell M, Rimer B, et al. (1999) How effective is a tailored print communication? Ann Behav Med 21: 290–298. doi: 10.1007/BF02895960
    [8] Partridge M, Hill S (2000) Enhancing care for people with asthma : The role of communication, education, training and self-management. Eur Respir J 16: 333–348. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00.16233400
    [9] Nooijer J, Lechner L, Vries H (2002) Tailored versus general information on early detection of cancer : A comparison of the reactions of Dutch adults and the impact on attitudes and behaviors. Health Educ Res 17: 239–252. doi: 10.1093/her/17.2.239
    [10] Smith J, Picton C, Dayan M, Now or Never: Shaping pharmacy for the future, 2013. Available from: https://www.rpharms.com/promoting-pharmacy-pdfs/moc-report-full.pdf.
    [11] Curtain C, Peterson G (2014) Review of computerized clinical decision support in community pharmacy. J Clin Pharm Ther 39: 343–348. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.12168
    [12] Westerlund T, Andersson I, Marklund B (2007) The quality of self-care counselling by pharmacy practitioners, supported by IT-based clinical guidelines. Pharm World Sci 29: 67–72. doi: 10.1007/s11096-006-9073-z
    [13] Legrand S, Boets S, Meesmann U, et al. (2012) Medicines and driving: Evaluation of training and software support for patient counselling by pharmacists. Int J Clin Pharm 34: 633–643. doi: 10.1007/s11096-012-9658-7
    [14] Greenhill N, Anderson C, Avery A, et al. (2011) Patient education and counseling analysis of pharmacist-patient communication using the Calgary-Cambridge guide. Patient Educ Couns 83: 423–431. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2011.04.036
    [15] Bock B, Hudmon K, Christian J, et al. (2010) A tailored intervention to support pharmacy-based counseling for smoking cessation. Nicotine Tob Res 12: 217–225. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntp197
    [16] Hodges L, Gilbert H, Sutton S (2009) Using computer-tailored smoking-cessation advice in community pharmacy: A feasibility study. Int J Pharm Pract 17: 365–368. doi: 10.1211/ijpp.17.06.0008
    [17] Westerling A, Hynninen J, Haikala V, et al. (2010) Opinion comparison concerning future information technology in Finnish community pharmacies. Pharm World Sci 32: 787–794. doi: 10.1007/s11096-010-9438-1
    [18] Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) and Statistics Portugal (INE), Inquérito Nacional de Saúde 2014 [National Health Survey 2014], 2015. Available from: http://www.insa.pt/sites/INSA/Portugues/ComInf/Noticias/Documents/2015/Novembro/11INS2014.pdf.
    [19] Direção-Geral da Saúde (DGS), Portugal, Doenças Oncológicas em números-2013 [Portugal, Oncologic diseases, in numbers-2013], 2013. Available from: file:///C:/Users/Catarina Vitor/Downloads/i019431.pdf.
    [20] Paixão E, Branco M, Contreiras T, Uma observação sobre a prevalência de perturbações do sono, em Portugal Continental-Relatório [An observation on the prevalence of sleeping disorders, in the Portuguese mainland-Report], 2006. Available from: http://www.insa.pt/sites/INSA/Portugues/ComInf/Noticias/Documents/2015/Novembro/11INS2014.pdf.
    [21] Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN), Federal Plain Language Guidelines, 2011. Available from: https://plainlanguage.gov/media/FederalPLGuidelines.pdf.
    [22] Sauro J, Measuring Usability With The System Usability Scale (SUS), 2011. Available from: https://measuringu.com/sus/.
    [23] Lima M, Correira I (2013) Atitudes-Medida, estrutura e funções [Attitudes-Measurement, structure and functions], In: Psicologia Social, 9 Eds., Lisbon: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.
    [24] International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Counseling, Concordance and Communication-Innovative Education for Pharmacists, 2005. Available from: http://www.fip.org/files/fip/PI/Counselling,Concordance,andCommunication-Innovative Education for Pharmacists.pdf.
    [25] World Health Organization (WHO), Adherence to long-term therapies, 2003. Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/42682/1/9241545992.pdf.
    [26] Emmerton L, Mampallil L, Kairuz T, et al. (2012) Exploring health literacy competencies in community pharmacy. Health Expect 15: 12–22. doi: 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2010.00649.x
    [27] National Health Service (NHS), Pharmacy in the Future-Implementing the NHS Plan, 2000. Available from: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121013030701/http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4068204.pdf.
    [28] Kreuter M, Strecher V, Glassman B, et al. (1999) One size does not fit all: The case for tailoring print materials. Ann Behav Med 21: 276–283. doi: 10.1007/BF02895958
    [29] Abrams D, Mills S, Bulger D (1999) Challenges anf future directions for tailored communication research. Ann Behav Med 21: 299–306.
    [30] Kooy M, Geffen E, Heerdink E, et al. (2014) Effects of a TELephone Counselling Intervention by Pharmacist (TelCIP) on medication adherence, patient beliefs and satisfaction with information for patients starting treatment: Study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Health Serv Res 14: 219. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-219
    [31] Ozair F, Jamshed N, Sharma A, et al. (2015) Ethical issues in electronic health records: A general overview. Perspect Clin Res 6: 112–115.
    [32] Noar S, Benac C, Harris M (2007) Does tailoring matter? Meta-analytic review of tailored print health behavior change interventions. Psychol Bull 133: 673–693.
    [33] Sustersic M, Gauchet A, Foote A, et al. (2016) How best to use and evaluate Patient Information Leaflets given during a consultation: A systematic review of literature reviews. Health Expect 20: 1–12.
    [34] Bosworth H, Granger B, Mendys P, et al. (2011) Medication adherence: A call for action. Am Heart J 162: 412–424. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2011.06.007
    [35] Eichler E, Wieser S, Bruügger U (2009) The costs of limited health literacy: A systematic review. Int J Public Health 54: 313–324. doi: 10.1007/s00038-009-0058-2
  • Reader Comments
  • © 2018 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
  • 1. 

    沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

  1. 本站搜索
  2. 百度学术搜索
  3. 万方数据库搜索
  4. CNKI搜索
AIMS Public Health
3.1 4.8

Metrics

Article views(3601) PDF downloads(680) Cited by(2)

Preview PDF
Download XML
Export Citation
Article outline

Figures and Tables

Tables(2)

Other Articles By Authors

Related pages

Tools

/

DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
Return
Return

Catalog