As the population ages, the use of information technology and telecommunications in healthcare delivery (often known as Connected Health, telehealth or e-health) has been proposed as a means of providing . patient-centred care to those with chronic conditions. Little research has been conducted into the involvement of community pharmacists in Connected Health delivery. This thesis aimed to investigate the potential role of community pharmacists in the delivery of Connected Health services. A systematic content analysis of print media was performed to explore reporting of Connected Health in UK and US newspapers. A qualitative interview study was conducted with community pharmacists and key stakeholders in Canada and Northern Ireland to gather their views on community pharmacist involvement in Connected Health. Informed by the latter qualitative study, an online questionnaire was distributed to community pharmacists in Northern Ireland to explore their views regarding their potential role in Connected Health. Finally, a feasibility study was carried out, in which community pharmacists sent patients mobile telephone medication reminders and remotely monitored their blood pressure . . Connected Health was positively reported by the print media in the US and the UK. Community pharmacist and key stakeholder interviewees were supportive of community pharmacist involvement in Connected Health, believing it would extend and promote ' their role. However, they had concerns regarding appropriate remuneration. Similar views were obtained from community pharmacist questionnaire respondents. The feasibility study showed that a community pharmacy-based Connected Health programme could be successfully implemented on a small scale. Participants involved were positive about community pharmacist involvement in Connected Health. Community pharmacist involvement in Connected Health has the potential to improve patient outcomes and ease pressure on the health service. However, barriers such as funding and general practitioner acceptance would need to be overcome and a sound evidence base established before routine pharmacist involvement becomes a reality.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:680058 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Moohan, R. |
| Publisher | Queen's University Belfast |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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