CLOSE to 90% of pharmacists would support the development of specialised roles within the community pharmacy sector, the University of Technology Sydney's (UTS) 2020 Pharmacy Barometer reveals (PD 27 Apr).
Data from the annual survey of 360 pharmacists found just 5% did not want to see the emergence of specialisation in the profession.
When it came to identifying areas where pharmacists could become specialists within the community pharmacy setting, vaccination and immunisation topped the list with 65% of respondents backing it as an area of specialisation, while 44% suggested self-care including minor ailments and triage could be another, while 40% said pharmacists could also specialise in aged care.
UTS Graduate School of Health Head of Pharmacy, Professor Kylie Williams, said the support for specialisation showed "there is an opportunity for credentialled training in the development of these roles".
However, former Commonwealth Pharmacists' Association President and UTS Graduate School of Health Primary Health Care Teacher, John Bell, noted that "we are a long way off having someone who can specialise in a particular area only, and for that to be a good financial investment for pharmacy".
While support for the development of non-dispensing roles has grown, the barometer found pharmacists reported that 61.6% of their time remains focused on dispensing tasks, while less than a quarter of their weekly activity is spent dealing with minor ailments and over-the-counter products, while 13.5% is allocated to disease prevention and overall wellness.
Meanwhile the 2020 barometer showed the proportion of pharmacies that employed a dedicated non-dispensing pharmacist crept up to 17%, compared with 15% reported in the 2019 Barometer report.
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