Realist research to inform pharmacy practice and policy

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Pharmacy Practice
• Realist Evaluation Methodology

Background:

• Pharmacy services are complex interventions that require theory-driven implementation and evaluation.
• These services are often adapted during implementation across diverse healthcare contexts.
• Understanding implementation variations is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate the practical application of realist philosophy in pharmacy practice.
• To demonstrate how realist approaches can evaluate complex pharmacy interventions.
• To establish theories on the optimal functioning of pharmacy services.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a realist philosophy of science for evaluation.
• Conducted a realist synthesis of literature on medication reviews.
• Performed a realist review and evaluation of medicines management programs.

Main Results:

• Identified essential causative factors for program success in pharmacy services.
• Established theories explaining how and why specific pharmacy interventions work.
• Provided insights into optimizing service design based on context.

Conclusions:

• Realist evaluation offers a robust framework for understanding complex pharmacy services.
• This approach supports evidence-based decision-making for policymakers and practitioners.
• Optimizing pharmacy service design can enhance their contribution to healthcare.