Improving Care for People with Chronic Conditions and their Carers: How Can Community Pharmacy Help?
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King, Michelle
Wheeler, Amanda
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Kelly, Fiona
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Abstract
Chronic conditions are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. With the majority of Australians reported to have one or more chronic conditions, this is a key priority area for the Australian Government and healthcare sector. As medication is frequently used to manage chronic conditions, pharmacists, as medication experts, are well placed to help these consumers. Health professionals, including pharmacists, are increasingly being encouraged to meet consumer needs in a patient-centred manner, i.e. empowering, individualised, respectful and holistic care. Yet, there has been limited insight into what pharmacy services would best meet the needs of consumers with chronic conditions and their carers. This exploratory study examined how pharmacies, as accessible healthcare destinations, could better assist these consumers. A mixed methods approach was adopted to gain a better understanding of the lived experiences and healthcare priorities of consumers who were newly diagnosed with, or had established chronic conditions, were unpaid carers, or both. Methods included a systematic review, semi-structured interviews, the Nominal Group Technique and a survey, between November 2011 and January 2014. Participants were purposively sampled from four Australian regions: Logan-Beaudesert and Mt Isa, Queensland; Perth, Western Australia; and Northern Rivers, New South Wales. These areas represent diversity in culture, socioeconomic status, location and pharmacy access.
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Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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School of Human Services and Social Work
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The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
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Subject
Caring for patients with chronic illness
Pharmacology
Managing chronic illnesses
Pharmacy access