[Community pharmacies' professional image: causes and improvement strategies by applying qualitative research techniques].
OBJECTIVE
Ascertaining pharmacists' views related to factors explaining the lack of visibility of community pharmacies as being health facilities and proposing strategies for improving community pharmacy professional service accessibility using qualitative research techniques.


METHODS
The nominal group technique (NGT) was used in two successive rounds using separate guidelines for factors and strategies. Framework analysis was then carried out.


RESULTS
Thirty-four ideas related to "factors" and 32 related to "strategies" were obtained. Strategies were grouped into 14 topics, emphasising those prioritising patient-orientated professional services, ethical aspects and pharmacists' ongoing education.


CONCLUSIONS
The techniques used led to identifying situations perceived by pharmacists which are not formally described in the literature. Raising awareness of professional services in community pharmacies implies agreeing on and developing strategies which should be based on joint participation by the pharmacists themselves, professional associations and universities.
Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. parman@fc.unc.edu.ar
Pedro D
PD
Armando
Elena M
EM
Vega
Sonia A
SA
Uema
D001118:Argentina; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D011639:Public Opinion; D036301:Qualitative Research; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012938:Social Perception