Policy versus practice: a community-based qualitative study of the realities of pharmacy services in Nunavut, Canada
Abstract Objectives Nunavut is an Arctic territory in Canada subject to many social, economic and health disparities in comparison to the rest of the nation. The territory is affected by health care provision challenges caused by small, geographically isolated communities where staffing shortages an...
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ftbiomed:oai:biomedcentral.com:s40545-015-0043-5 2023-05-15T15:01:57+02:00 Policy versus practice: a community-based qualitative study of the realities of pharmacy services in Nunavut, Canada Romain, Sandra Kohler, Jillian Young, Kue 2015-09-21 http://www.joppp.org/content/8/1/22 en eng BioMed Central Ltd. http://www.joppp.org/content/8/1/22 Copyright 2015 Romain et al. Nunavut Arctic Pharmacy Medication Prescription Policy Remote Research 2015 ftbiomed 2015-09-27T00:07:44Z Abstract Objectives Nunavut is an Arctic territory in Canada subject to many social, economic and health disparities in comparison to the rest of the nation. The territory is affected by health care provision challenges caused by small, geographically isolated communities where staffing shortages and weather related access barriers are common concerns. In addition to national universal healthcare, the majority of the inhabitants of Nunavut (~85 %) are Inuit beneficiaries of no-charge pharmaceuticals provided through federal and/or territorial budgetary allocations. This research examines how existing pharmaceutical administration and distribution policies and practices in Nunavut impact patient care. Methods This grounded theory research includes document analysis and semi-structured interviews conducted in 2013/14 with patients, health care providers, administrators and policy makers in several communities in Nunavut. Thirty five informants in total participated in the study. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analyzed with qualitative data analysis software for internal consistency and emerging themes. Results Four distinct themes emerge from the research that have the potential to impact patient care and which may provide direction for future policy development: 1) tensions between national versus territorial financial responsibilities influence health provider decisions that may affect patient care, 2) significant human resources are utilized in Community Health Centres to perform distribution duties associated with retail pharmacy medications, 3) large quantities of unclaimed prescription medications are suggestive of significant financial losses, suboptimal patient care and low adherence rates, and 4) the absence of a clear policy and oversight for some controlled substances, such as narcotics, leaves communities at risk for potential illegal procurement or abuse. Conclusions Addressing these issues in future policy development may result in system-wide economic benefits, improved patient care and adherence, and reduced risk to communities. The interview informants who participated in this research are best positioned to identify issues in need of attention and will benefit the most from policy development to address their concerns. Other/Unknown Material Arctic inuit Nunavut BioMed Central Arctic Canada Nunavut |
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Nunavut Arctic Pharmacy Medication Prescription Policy Remote |
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Nunavut Arctic Pharmacy Medication Prescription Policy Remote Romain, Sandra Kohler, Jillian Young, Kue Policy versus practice: a community-based qualitative study of the realities of pharmacy services in Nunavut, Canada |
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Nunavut Arctic Pharmacy Medication Prescription Policy Remote |
description |
Abstract Objectives Nunavut is an Arctic territory in Canada subject to many social, economic and health disparities in comparison to the rest of the nation. The territory is affected by health care provision challenges caused by small, geographically isolated communities where staffing shortages and weather related access barriers are common concerns. In addition to national universal healthcare, the majority of the inhabitants of Nunavut (~85 %) are Inuit beneficiaries of no-charge pharmaceuticals provided through federal and/or territorial budgetary allocations. This research examines how existing pharmaceutical administration and distribution policies and practices in Nunavut impact patient care. Methods This grounded theory research includes document analysis and semi-structured interviews conducted in 2013/14 with patients, health care providers, administrators and policy makers in several communities in Nunavut. Thirty five informants in total participated in the study. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analyzed with qualitative data analysis software for internal consistency and emerging themes. Results Four distinct themes emerge from the research that have the potential to impact patient care and which may provide direction for future policy development: 1) tensions between national versus territorial financial responsibilities influence health provider decisions that may affect patient care, 2) significant human resources are utilized in Community Health Centres to perform distribution duties associated with retail pharmacy medications, 3) large quantities of unclaimed prescription medications are suggestive of significant financial losses, suboptimal patient care and low adherence rates, and 4) the absence of a clear policy and oversight for some controlled substances, such as narcotics, leaves communities at risk for potential illegal procurement or abuse. Conclusions Addressing these issues in future policy development may result in system-wide economic benefits, improved patient care and adherence, and reduced risk to communities. The interview informants who participated in this research are best positioned to identify issues in need of attention and will benefit the most from policy development to address their concerns. |
format |
Other/Unknown Material |
author |
Romain, Sandra Kohler, Jillian Young, Kue |
author_facet |
Romain, Sandra Kohler, Jillian Young, Kue |
author_sort |
Romain, Sandra |
title |
Policy versus practice: a community-based qualitative study of the realities of pharmacy services in Nunavut, Canada |
title_short |
Policy versus practice: a community-based qualitative study of the realities of pharmacy services in Nunavut, Canada |
title_full |
Policy versus practice: a community-based qualitative study of the realities of pharmacy services in Nunavut, Canada |
title_fullStr |
Policy versus practice: a community-based qualitative study of the realities of pharmacy services in Nunavut, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Policy versus practice: a community-based qualitative study of the realities of pharmacy services in Nunavut, Canada |
title_sort |
policy versus practice: a community-based qualitative study of the realities of pharmacy services in nunavut, canada |
publisher |
BioMed Central Ltd. |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://www.joppp.org/content/8/1/22 |
geographic |
Arctic Canada Nunavut |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Canada Nunavut |
genre |
Arctic inuit Nunavut |
genre_facet |
Arctic inuit Nunavut |
op_relation |
http://www.joppp.org/content/8/1/22 |
op_rights |
Copyright 2015 Romain et al. |
_version_ |
1766333953234436096 |