Expanded Pharmacy Practice Implementation: Lessons from Remote Practice.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Rural Health
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Community pharmacists are vital in rural Australia, providing essential health services.
• Expanded pharmacy services are emerging, but structured models for rural areas are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore pharmacist perspectives on implementing a community pharmacy-based ear health service.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to the LISTEN UP (Locally Integrated Screening and Testing Ear aNd aUral Program) service.

Main Methods:

• A community pharmacy-based ear care service model (LISTEN UP) was developed.
• Pharmacist perspectives were explored through 20 semi-structured interviews.
• Thematic analysis was used, coded with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Main Results:

• Ear canal visualization was a key advantage; documentation time was a complexity.
• Limited pharmacists per shift and lack of private rooms were implementation barriers.
• Pharmacists highlighted the need for government funding for service sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Expanded pharmacy practice is crucial for Australian rural communities.
• Lessons learned can guide the development of future expanded pharmacy service models.
• Addressing resource limitations and funding is essential for successful implementation.