Barriers in the public health role of community pharmacists: a qualitative study.

Objectives Using qualitative methods (interviews), this study aimed to identify barriers in the public health role of UK community pharmacists. Methods Data were collected through telephone interviews using Skype and recorded using ' HD Call Recorder for Skype'. The qualitative data software package NVivo (version 10) was used for storage, retrieval and analysis of data. Key findings This study identified a number of barriers hindering the public health role of community pharmacists in the UK. The most frequently cited barriers included: challenges as to the use of new technologies and social media; lack of awareness; pharmacists' lack of confidence in their public health role; commercial pressure from pharmacy owners; lack of time; inadequate funding; government policy on the public health role of pharmacists; inadequate communication skills; lack of integration of UK undergraduate healthcare programmes; logistics; as well as the fact that UK pharmacists qualify as scientists rather than as clinicians. Conclusions Many of the barriers identified in this study have also been confirmed in other studies. A clearer policy by the government on the public health role of pharmacists, supported by Schools of Pharmacy and relevant stakeholders might be a way forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]