Roles of Primary Care Pharmacists in Public Sector: A Qualitative Study in Thailand

Abstract

Objective: To define and illuminate the roles of pharmacists needed to enhance the primary care mission in Thailand. Methods: The phenomenological qualitative methodology was used. Eighteen participants selected by purposive sampling consisting of 12 professional pharmacists, 3 health practitioners, and 3 health profession leaders were interviewed with a set of semi-structure interview guide and open-ended questions. Audiotape records of interviews were transcribed and analyzed by thematic analysis. Non-participating observations were conducted when the participants allowed. Data collection ended when the conceptual information was saturated and no new data emerged. Triangulation of significant information from three different sources of data was undertaken to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. Results: Findings revealed three situational themes of how pharmacists in Thailand developed the roles of primary care; 1) Primary care pharmacists in the midst of conceptualization, 2) The existing roles of pharmacists in primary care and 3) Future prospect of primary care pharmacists. The conceptualization of primary care pharmacy seemed dynamic and context dependent--difficult to consolidate the boundary of tasks while pharmacists performed the primary care roles. The existing roles were defined in 4 categories; 1) professional care practitioner, 2) disease manager, 3) empowering community’s health capability, and 4) community drug logistics supervisor. The future of pharmacists’ roles was expected to be proactive and capable to work in integrative approach as a change agent for health, and to commit both the roles of professional specialist and health coordinator. Finally, the role concept of “family pharmacists”, the approach to patient caring, emerged from this study. Conclusion: The role of pharmacists in primary care was concretely defined in this study. The role concept elicits an indispensable guide to further steps of actions for involving stakeholders to fulfill the gap in professional capacity for primary healthcare of the country. The results of this study are strong evidences supporting primary care pharmacists to be eligible and officially approved in the nationwide public health system.