Pharmaceutical Care in Patients with Limited English Proficiency in Australia.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the current practices used by the pharmacists’ for communicating with patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and to assess pharmacists’ knowledge of, attitude towards, and satisfaction with accessing available services for supporting LEPs patients within their current practice settings. Methods: Semi- structured interviews was conducted with five pharmacists employed in pharmacies representing multiple practice setting Queensland, Australia. Thematic analysis was primarily informed by the general inductive approach. NVivo software (QSR International Pty Ltd) was used to manage the data. Results: Three interlinked themes emerged from the analysis of interview data: (1) Barriers to the provision of Pharmaceutical care, (2) Strategies employed in dealing with LEP patients and, (3) Lack of knowledge about existing services. Pharmacists recognised their lack of skills in communicating with LEP patients to have negative consequences for the patient and discussed these in terms of uncertainty around eliciting patient information and the patient’s understanding of their instructions and or advice. Current strategies were inconsistent and challenging for LEP patient care. Use of interpreters was common. While participants perceived the usefulness of informal interpreters there was a significant degree of uncertainty surrounding their actual competency in conveying the core message. Conclusion: The present highlight a significant gap in provision of pharmaceutical care in patients with LEP. Development of user-friendly decision algorithm may aid in facilitation of quality use of medicines in such patients.