IJPP 2003, 11: 47–54
© 2003 Int J Pharm Pract
Received July 15, 2002
Accepted January 28, 2003
DOI 10.1211/002235702892
ISSN 0961-7671
Department of General Practice
and Primary Care, University of
Aberdeen
Terry Porteous, research
pharmacist
Christine Bond, professor of
primary care (pharmacy)
Correspondence:
Mrs Porteous,
Department of General Practice
and Primary Care, University of
Aberdeen, Foresterhill Health
Centre, Westburn Road,
Aberdeen, Scotland AB25 2AY.
E-mail: t.porteous@abdn.ac.uk
Acknowledgments:
This study
was funded by Grampian Health
Board. Thanks go to all
Middlefield residents and
professionals who responded to
the questionnaire, to Novartis for
supporting the nominal group
meeting and to staff at the
Healthy Hoose for their help and
co-operation. Thanks also go to
members of the steering group:
Liz Davidson, nurse prescriber,
Healthy Hoose; Fiona Ritchie, GP
registrar, Calsayseat Medical
Practice; Linda Juroszek, AICC
lead pharmacist; Marlene
Westland, health promotion
worker; Janet Ollason and Sarah
Gray, Grampian Health Board;
Peter MacLean, acting
programme and initiatives
manager, AICC.
Original Papers
Novel provision of pharmacy services to a deprived area: a pharmaceutical needs assessment
Terry Porteous and Christine Bond
AbstractObjectiveTo conduct a pharmaceutical services needs assessment in a deprived area of Aberdeen and to inform the development of an innovative provision of these services, addressing local needs, to be delivered within an agreed budget.
Method A systematic consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. Preliminary content setting interviews informed the development of questionnaires which were mailed to residents (n ¼ 300) randomly selected from the electoral roll, and professionals (n ¼ 117). A nominal group of stakeholders (17 invitees) was used to prioritise the services identified from the questionnaire and identify barriers to their implementation.
Setting The setting was a deprived community in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland.
Key findings Questionnaire response rates were 53% and 74% for residents and professionals respectively. The majority of residents reported receiving a prescription from their GP at least annually (81%) and purchased over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (78%). The top five services required by residents were advice on minor illnesses and the use of OTC medicines, sales of first aid products and OTC medicines, and collection of prescribed medicines. The professionals additionally favoured advice on prescribed medicines and sales of baby products instead of collection of medicines and sales of first aid products. The nominal group was attended by nine people. Benefits of a pharmacy service in the area were identified as convenience and access to advice. There was concern about duplication of services with the established nurse practitioner. Concerns were also raised about security, particularly if drug misuse services were provided.
Conclusion The feasibility of using a systematic approach to identify services to address local need was demonstrated.