General practice pharmacists in Australia: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Health Services Research
• General Practice

Background:

• The integration of pharmacists into Australian general practices has significantly increased.
• This systematic review synthesizes existing literature on pharmacists in Australian general practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize qualitative and quantitative studies on pharmacists in Australian general practice.
• To identify knowledge gaps concerning their roles and impact.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searches conducted across major databases (PubMed, EBSCOhost, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) up to January 2021.
• Narrative synthesis used due to study heterogeneity, with quality appraisal via Mixed Method Appraisal Tool.

Main Results:

• Twenty-five studies were included, highlighting medication management reviews as a key pharmacist activity.
• Successful integration factors included pharmacist characteristics and collaborative environments.
• Barriers comprised funding shortages, undefined roles, and lack of training/mentoring.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacists are well-accepted in general practice and provide valuable patient-centred care.
• Further research on patient and economic outcomes is crucial for sustainable funding models.
• Findings offer insights for implementing and expanding the role of general practice pharmacists.