Canadian Pharmacists Journal/Revue des Pharmaciens du Canada

Includes bibliographical references.

Understanding motivations and behaviours of our influencers: What can pharmacists learn from their leaders? -- The COVID conversations: A content analysis of Canadian pharmacy organizations’ communication of pharmacists’ roles and services during the COVID-19 pandemic -- “It’s a lonely battle”: A qualitative study of older adult Canadians’ experiences with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medication adherence and support -- Community pharmacist perceptions of drug–drug interactions.

[Article Title: Understanding motivations and behaviours of our influencers: What can pharmacists learn from their leaders?/ Madonna Gaballa, Kristin Kaupp, Paul Gregory and Zubin Austin, p. 14–21]

Abstract:

Background:
There has been considerable discussion regarding the “leadership crisis” in pharmacy, with concerns that insufficient numbers of pharmacists want to take on leadership roles in their own profession. This exploratory study of leaders and influencers in pharmacy was undertaken to characterize the motivations for and behaviours of titled and untitled leaders, in order to help other pharmacists learn from their experiences.

Methods:
Interviews with 28 individuals who self-identified or were described by others as leaders (with or without formal titles) and influencers in pharmacy were conducted using online platforms (e.g., Zoom, Teams). A semistructured interview guide was used and refined during the interviews. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method to identify common themes.

Results:
While participants in this study all described different trajectories towards leadership or influencer roles, several common themes emerged, including 1) personal characteristics that enable leadership roles/activities, 2) environmental supports and drivers that propel leadership forward, 3) positive reinforcers that maintain momentum towards leadership aspirations and 4) general predictors of success as a leader/influencer in pharmacy.

Discussion:
To address the “leadership crisis” in pharmacy, it will be necessary to motivate and support individuals in assuming these roles. Findings from this study have highlighted the complex and individual pathways current leaders have undertaken to achieve these roles and have signposted ways in which organizations, managers and mentors can support nascent leadership aspirations in productive ways.

https://doi.org/10.1177/17151635221136127

[Article Title: The COVID conversations: A content analysis of Canadian pharmacy organizations’ communication of pharmacists’ roles and services during the COVID-19 pandemic/ Calli Safnuk, Margaret L. Ackman, Theresa J. Schindel and Kaitlyn E. Watson, p. 22–31]

Abstract:

Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique challenge for pharmacists as they navigated information scarcity on the frontlines while being identified as information experts. Alberta pharmacists looked to their professional organizations for direction regarding what their roles should be in a crisis. The objective of this study was to explore pharmacists’ roles and services and how they were communicated by pharmacy organizations during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:
The study used a conventional content analysis method to explore the online communication of relevant pharmacy organizations for Alberta pharmacists. Five organization websites (National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities, Canadian Pharmacists Association [CPhA], Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists [CSHP], Alberta College of Pharmacy [ACP] and the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association [RxA]) were examined to identify and catalogue publicly accessible documents that communicated pharmacists’ roles and services during the first year of the pandemic for Alberta pharmacists.

Results:
A total of 92 documents were collected from CPhA (60), CSHP (2), ACP (26) and RxA (4). While most documents communicated information about pharmacists’ roles in public health, patient care and drug and personal protective equipment supply, more than one-third of the documents (32/92, 34.8%) required contextual information to interpret the communication. There was an observed shift in the communication after the first 6 months, becoming more direct in its messaging and context.

Conclusion:
These pharmacy organizations communicated information for pharmacists’ roles and services to provide direction and guidance in the ever-changing context of the COVID-19 pandemic for Alberta pharmacists. Their communication became clearer and more direct as the pandemic progressed, requiring less inference to understand the intended message.

https://doi.org/10.1177/17151635221139195

[Article Title: “It’s a lonely battle”: A qualitative study of older adult Canadians’ experiences with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medication adherence and support/ Leanne Skerry, Emily Kervin, Emily Kervin, Andrew Brillant, Jennifer Woodland and Natasha Hanson, p. 32–41]

Abstract:

Background:
Medication adherence is critical for optimal management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is influenced by patient, treatment and societal factors. Currently, little is known about the patient perspectives of older adult Canadians with COPD regarding medication adherence. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of older Canadian adults with COPD regarding medication adherence and management.

Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 community-dwelling older adults with COPD, and iterative thematic analysis was performed.

Results:
Six themes emerged from these data: (1) continuity of care, (2) importance of pharmacy for information and care, (3) medication self-management, (4) “there needs to be more information,” (5) drug costs a concern and (6) “it’s a lonely battle.”

Conclusion:
Findings suggested a need for improved continuity of care, disease-related information provision and means of addressing psychosocial needs. Holistic approaches to patient education and self-management, with consideration for varying health literacy, are needed.

https://doi.org/10.1177/17151635221140412

[Article Title: Community pharmacist perceptions of drug–drug interactions/ Karen Dahri, Louise Araujo, Si Chen, Harkaryn Bagri, Keerti Walia, Louise Lau and Michael Legal, p. 42–47]

Abstract:

Background:
Drug–drug interactions are preventable medication errors that can lead to serious negative outcomes for patients. Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned with their medication knowledge and role in prescription clinical assessment. However, workplace pressures and limitations related to computer systems can lead to drug–drug interactions being missed. There is a lack of information as to how community pharmacists assess drug interactions.

Methods:
A qualitative study using key informant interviews of community pharmacists was conducted. Pharmacists were questioned on their perceptions and views of drug interactions.

Results:
Eight community pharmacists participated. Four main themes were identified from the interviews: 1) pharmacist process of identifying drug interactions, 2) tools that help pharmacists assess and respond to drug interactions, 3) challenges in identifying and responding to clinically important drug interactions and 4) measures to avoid missing interactions.

Discussion:
Community pharmacists experience challenges around their lack of access to patient information, which limits their ability to properly assess drug–drug interactions. In addition, increasing workload pressures have affected their ability to ensure their patients receive optimal pharmaceutical care. There is also a disconnect between the community pharmacy computer systems’ alerts and their clinical relevancy to their specific patients. The overall burdens can lead to professional abstinence in the assessment of drug–drug interactions.

Conclusion:
Community pharmacists are in an ideal position to prevent patients from experiencing drug–drug interactions. However, to further enable them to fulfill this role, increased access to patients’ health records, decreased workload and better customization of computer alerts need to occur.

https://doi.org/10.1177/17151635221140379