Objectives: This study aims to explore community pharmacists’ perceptions of their evolving role in prescribing. Methods: A qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive research design was utilized. Pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Polokwane, South Africa, were purposefully selected. With data saturation achieved, 14 pharmacists participated in the study. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews, which were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Tesch’s open coding technique. Results: The majority of participants expressed satisfaction with their new role as prescribers, emphasizing that they possess the necessary knowledge and pharmacology skills to diagnose patients and recommend appropriate treatments. Findings underscore a variety of benefits, including advantages for patients, financial benefits, and professional growth for pharmacists. Conclusion: Pharmacists' involvement in prescribing has the potential to enhance rational prescribing practices, improve medication use, reduce medical costs for patients, expand pharmacists’ therapeutic knowledge, and enhance access to healthcare services. Increasing pharmacists' prescribing capabilities and the availability of approved training institutions may foster greater interest in this field.
Taylor S, Cairns A, Glass B. Expanded practice in rural community pharmacy: a macro-, meso and micro-level perspective. Rural Remote Health. 2021;21(3):1-11. doi:10.1002/jppr.1688
Sato N, Fujita K, Kushida K, Chen, T F. Exploring the factors influencing the quality of "Health Support Pharmacy" services in Japan: Perspectives of community pharmacists. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2020;16(12):1686-1693. doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.02.012 PMid:32147461
Selvaraj A, Redzuan AM, Hatah E. Community pharmacists' perceptions, attitudes and barriers towards pharmacist led minor ailment services in Malaysia. Int J Clin Pharm. 2020;42:777-785. doi:10.1007/s11096-020-00973-x PMid:32006142
Naidoo V, Suleman F, Bangalee V. Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study. PLoS One. 2021; 16(9):1-13. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0257348 PMid:34555058 PMCid:PMC8459985
Diab MI, Ibrahim A, Abdallah O, El-Awaisi A, Zolezzi M, Ageeb RA, et al. Perspectives of future pharmacists on the potential for development and implementation of pharmacist prescribing in Qatar. Int J Clin Pharm. 2020;42(1):110-123. doi:10.1007/s11096-019-00946-9 PMid:31898166 PMCid:PMC7162834
Essilini A, Pierre A, Bocquier A, Pulcini C, Wilcke C, Gravoulet J, et al. Community pharmacists' views on their current role and future opportunities for antibiotic stewardship: a French qualitative study. JAC Antimicrob Resist. 2021;3(3):1-8. doi:10.1093/jacamr/dlab129 PMid:34671729 PMCid:PMC8521646
Twigg G, Motsko J, Thomas J, David T. Pharmacist-Managed Diabetes Center Interventions Ensure Quality and Safety in Elderly Patients. Consult Pharm. 2017;32(5):299-310. doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2017.299 PMid:28483010
Elliott RA, Tanajewski L, Gkountouras G, Avery AJ, Barber N, Mehta R, et al. Cost Effectiveness of Support for People Starting a New Medication for a Long-Term Condition Through Community Pharmacies: An Economic Evaluation of the New Medicine Service (NMS) Compared with Normal Practice. Pharmacoeconomics. 2017; 35(12):1237-1255. doi:10.1007/s40273-017-0554-9 Mid:28776320 PMCid:PMC5684280
Perraudin C, Brion F, Bourdon O, Pelletier-Fleury N. The future of pharmaceutical care in France: a survey of final-year pharmacy students' opinions. BMC Clin Pharmacol. 2011;11(6):1-8. doi:10.1186/1472-6904-11-6 PMid:21612642 PMCid:PMC3115856
Stewart D, Pallivalapila A, Thomas B, Hanssens Y, El Kassem W, Nazar Z, et al. A theoretically informed, mixed-methods study of pharmacists' aspirations and readiness to implement pharmacist prescribing. Int J Clin Pharm. 2021;43(6):1638-1650. doi:10.1007/s11096-021-01296-1 PMid:34125372 PMCid:PMC8642360
Stewart D, Jebara T, Cunningham S, Awaisu A, Pallivalapila A, MacLure K. Future perspectives on nonmedical prescribing. Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2017;8(6):183-197. doi:10.1177/2042098617693546 PMid:28607668 PMCid:PMC5455843
Cope LC, Abuzour AS, Tully MP. Nonmedical prescribing: where are we now? Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2016;7(4):165-172. doi:10.1177/2042098616646726 Mid:27493720PMCid:PMC4959632
Le LM, Veettil SK, Donaldson D, Kategeaw W, Hutubessy R, Lambach P, et al. The impact of pharmacist involvement on immunization uptake and other outcomes: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2022; 62(5):1499-1513. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2022.06.008 PMid:35961937 PMCid:PMC9448680
Poudel A, Lau ETL, Deldot M, Campbell C, Waite NM, Nissen LM. Pharmacist role in vaccination: Evidence and challenges. Vaccine. 2019;37(40):5939-5945. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.08.060 PMid:31474520
Raiche T, Pammett R, Dattani S, Dolovich L, Hamilton K, Kennie-Kaulbach N, et al. Community pharmacists' evolving role in Canadian primary health care: a vision of harmonization in a patchwork system. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2020;18(4):1-12. doi:10.18549/PharmPract.2020.4.2171 PMid:33149795 PMCid:PMC7603659
Auta A, Strickland-Hodge B, Maz J, David S. Pharmacist prescribing: a cross-sectional survey of the views of pharmacists in Nigeria. Int J Pharm Pract. 2018;26(2):111-119. doi:10.1111/ijpp.12381 PMid:28497878
Chiutsi D, Suleman F, Perumal-Pillay VA. Extending Pharmacist Roles in Primary Healthcare to Meet the Needs of Universal Health Coverage in Zimbabwe: A Pharmacist Perspective and Curriculum Evaluation. Pharmacy (Basel). 2022;10(3):1-15 doi:10.3390/pharmacy10030054 PMid:35645333 PMCid:PMC9149850
Santschi V, Chiolero A, Burnand B, Colosimo AL, Paradis G. Impact of pharmacist care in the management of cardiovascular disease risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171(16):1441-1453. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.399 PMid:21911628
Charrois TL, Zolezzi M, Koshman SL, Pearson G, Makowsky M, Durec T, Tsuyuki RT. A systematic review of the evidence for pharmacist care of patients with dyslipidemia. Pharmacotherapy. 2012;32(3):222-233. doi:10.1002/j.1875-9114.2012.01022.x PMid:22392455
Abolfathiniya A, Fasihi-ramandi M, Tabanejad Z. Investigation of Niosomes for use as brucellosis vaccine. Novel Clin Med 2023; 2(2): 75-81. doi: 10.22034/ncm.2023.383601.1072
Jafroudi M, Rezaei S, Reihanian Z, Yousefzadeh Chabok S. Sensitivity, specificity and cut-off point of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in Patients with mild-Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). Arch Trauma Res 2023; 12(3): 159-168. doi: 10.48307/atr.2023.403134.1004
Tannenbaum C, Tsuyuki RT. The expanding scope of pharmacists' practice: implications for physicians. CMAJ. 2013; 185(14):1228-32. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121990 PMid:23959280 PMCid:PMC3787169
Auta A, Strickland-Hodge B, Maz J, David S. Pharmacist prescribing: a cross-sectional survey of the views of pharmacists in Nigeria. Int J Pharm Pract. 2018;26(2):111-119. doi:10.1111/ijpp.12381 PMid:28497878
Wada Y, Wada Y, Ennyu S, Shimokawa KI, Ishii F. Ability of community pharmacists to promote self-care and self-medication by local residents [I]: Improvements in bone mineral density. Drug Discov Ther. 2017;11(1):35-40. doi:10.5582/ddt.2016.01075 PMid:28179604
Salim AM, Elgizoli B. Exploring self-perception of community pharmacists of their professional identity, capabilities, and role expansion. J Res Pharm Pract. 2016;5(2):116-20. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.179574 PMid:27162805 PMCid:PMC4843580
Emmerton L, Marriott J, Bessell T, Nissen L, Dean L. Pharmacists and prescribing rights: review of international developments. J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2005;8(2):217-225.
Jebara T, Cunningham S, MacLure K, Awaisu A, Pallivalapila A, Stewart D. Stakeholders' views and experiences of pharmacist prescribing: a systematic review. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2018; 84 (9): 1883-905. doi:10.1111/bcp.13624 PMid:29873098 PMCid:PMC6089831
Nordin N, Ahmad Hassali MA, Sarriff A. A global picture of extended pharmacy services, perceptions, and barriers toward its performance: a systematic review. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2017;10 (11):417-27. doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i11.19884
Malangu N. The future of community pharmacy practice in South Africa in the light of the proposed new qualification for pharmacists: implications and challenges. Glob J Health Sci. 2014; 6(6):226-233. doi:10.5539/gjhs.v6n6p226 PMCid:PMC4825480
Yamane T. Statistics: an introductory analysis. 2nd ed. New York: Harper and Row. 1967.
Etikan I, Musa SA, Alkassim RS. Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. Am J Theoretical Appl Stat. 2016; 5(1):1-4. doi:10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
Francis JJ, Johnston M, Robertson C, Glidewell L, Entwistle V, Eccles MP, et al. What is an adequate sample size? Operationalising data saturation for theory-based interview studies. Psychol Health. 2010; 25(10):1229-1245. doi:10.1080/08870440903194015 PMid:20204937
Creswell JW. Qualitative inquiry and research design. 4th ed. Los Angeles: Sage. 2013.
Almalag HM, Mansy WH, Alwhaibi AM, Syed W, Babelghaith SD, Arifi MNA. Community Pharmacists' Knowledge, Willingness, and Readiness to Prescribe Oral Contraceptives in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(3):1-10. doi:10.3390/healthcare10030503 PMid:35326981 PMCid:PMC8956115
Makowsky MJ, Guirguis LM, Hughes CA, Sadowski CA, Yuksel N. Factors influencing pharmacists' adoption of prescribing: qualitative application of the diffusion of innovations theory. Implement Sci. 2013;8:1-11. doi:10.1186/1748-5908-8-109 PMid:24034176 PMCid:PMC3847669
Ramos DC, Ferreira L, dos Santos Júnior GA, Ayres LR, Esposti CDD. Pharmacist prescribing: a review of perceptions and attitudes of patients, pharmacists and other interested professionals. Ciência Saúde Coletiva, 2022;27(09):3531-3546. doi:10.1590/1413-81232022279.19972021en
Attard Pizzuto M, Camilleri L, Azzopardi LM, Serracino-Inglott A. Exploring views of pharmacists on antibacterial prescribing: a Maltese perspective. Int J Pharm Pract. 2019;27(3):256-263. doi:10.1111/ijpp.12498 PMid:30761641
Macdonald O, Smith K, Marven M, Broughton N, Geddes J, Cipriani A. How pharmacist prescribers can help meet the mental health consequences of COVID-19. Evid Based Ment Health. 2020;23(4): 131-132. doi:10.1136/ebmental-2020-300210 PMid:33115759 PMCid:PMC10231513
Faruquee CF, Guirguis LM. A scoping review of research on the prescribing practice of Canadian pharmacists. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2015;148(6):325-348. doi:10.1177/1715163515608399 PMid:26600824 PMCid:PMC4637852
Du Toit, J. Advertising of PCDT Services. S Afri Pharm J. 2016;83(10):50-51. http://www.sapj.co.za/index.php/SAPJ/article/view/2368 (Accessed 25 June 2023)
Chuene, T., Moloto, N., Rekhotho, M., Rakgoale, M., Mogano, K., & Makgopa, K. (2024). Exploring community pharmacists’ perceptions towards the prescribing role in Limpopo province, South Africa: A qualitative study. International Archives of Health Sciences, 11(1), 1-7. doi: 10.48307/iahsj.2023.416968.1061
MLA
Tiisetso Aubrey Chuene; Noko Brilliant Moloto; Manase Sarender Rekhotho; Mmakgwedi Unika Rakgoale; Koketso Malekhwekhwe Mogano; Kgaugelo Daphney Makgopa. "Exploring community pharmacists’ perceptions towards the prescribing role in Limpopo province, South Africa: A qualitative study". International Archives of Health Sciences, 11, 1, 2024, 1-7. doi: 10.48307/iahsj.2023.416968.1061
HARVARD
Chuene, T., Moloto, N., Rekhotho, M., Rakgoale, M., Mogano, K., Makgopa, K. (2024). 'Exploring community pharmacists’ perceptions towards the prescribing role in Limpopo province, South Africa: A qualitative study', International Archives of Health Sciences, 11(1), pp. 1-7. doi: 10.48307/iahsj.2023.416968.1061
VANCOUVER
Chuene, T., Moloto, N., Rekhotho, M., Rakgoale, M., Mogano, K., Makgopa, K. Exploring community pharmacists’ perceptions towards the prescribing role in Limpopo province, South Africa: A qualitative study. International Archives of Health Sciences, 2024; 11(1): 1-7. doi: 10.48307/iahsj.2023.416968.1061