title: How to enhance public health service utilization in community pharmacy?: general public and health providers' perspectives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community pharmacists (PHs) in England are increasingly providing a range of public health services. However, the general public view pharmacists as drug experts and not experts in health, and therefore, services may be underutilized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore experiences and views of 4 groups of participants, the general public, PHs, general practitioners (GPs), and other stakeholders (STs) on pharmacy-based public health services, and identify potential factors affecting service use.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was undertaken in a locality of North West England. Three focus groups were conducted with the general public (n=16), grouped by socioeconomic status. Fourteen semistructured interviews were undertaken with PHs (n=9), GPs (n=2), and STs (n=3). Discussions/interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 4 groups of participants agreed that community pharmacies are a good source of advice on medicines and minor ailments but were less supportive of public health services. Six factors were identified affecting utilization of pharmacy services: community pharmacy environment, pharmacist and support staff, service publicity, general public, GP services, and health care system and policies. Crucial obstacles that could inhibit service utilization are perceptions of both the general public and other health providers toward pharmacists' competencies, privacy and confidentiality in pharmacies, high dispensing workload, and inadequate financial support. Networking between local health professionals could enhance confidence in service delivery, general awareness, and thus utilization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community pharmacy has the potential to deliver public health services, although the impact on public health may be limited. Addressing the factors identified could help to increase utilization and impact of pharmacy public health services.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; Social Pharmacy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand. Electronic address: ksaramunee@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kritsanee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saramunee
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krska
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mackridge
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tourism, Consumer and Food Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: Social Pharmacy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand.
authors.forename: Siritree
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suttajit
authors.affiliation: Child and Maternal Health Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5AQ, UK.
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Phillips-Howard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010595:Pharmacists; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiovascular screening; Community pharmacy; General public; Pharmacy public health service; Public health