Engova, Dita;
(2001)
An investigation of pharmaceutical mental health care provision in a community setting.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D.), University College London.
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Abstract
Medication represents a significant part of the care of people with severe mental health problems (clients) and is often complex, sometimes causing disturbing side effects. In the community, although a number of different professionals are involved in their care, clients have reported a lack of information about their medication, and other medication-related problems. Community pharmacists are easily accessible health care professionals with an in-depth medication-related knowledge and experience. Nonetheless, little is known about their possible contribution to the care of clients. The aim of this research was to develop and evaluate a novel medication management and drug-information service from community pharmacists to clients in cooperation with community mental health teams (CMHTs), the Link-Pharmacist Scheme. Recruited link-community pharmacists, clients and key workers all participated in the data collection. Four different qualitative and quantitative research methods were triangulated. Comprehensive data analysis provided an in-depth evaluation of the service and justified the credibility of the findings. In addition to the evaluation of the service, factors significant to the development of community pharmacists' involvement were identified and used to propose a future model of a community pharmaceutical mental health service. The quantitative data revealed limited utilization of the service by the clients and key workers. The qualitative data showed that the link-pharmacists positively contributed to the care of people with mental health problems by providing them with easy access to additional drug-related information and contributing to their drug treatments. The findings suggested that successful wider implementation of a similar service would require a revision of current community pharmacy practice to allow pharmacists to develop extended services, and a formal acceptance of community pharmacists as members of multi-disciplinary teams. Drug-information needs of clients proved complex, and must be recognised and addressed in order to design an effective service. The results demonstrated that an evidence-based approach is appropriate for developing primary care pharmaceutical services.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D. |
| Title: | An investigation of pharmaceutical mental health care provision in a community setting. |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Thesis Digitised by Proquest. |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10121189 |
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