title: Characteristics of good quality pharmaceutical services common to community pharmacies and dispensing general practices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the United Kingdom, pharmaceutical services can be delivered by both community pharmacies (CPs) and dispensing doctor practices (DPs). Both must adhere to minimum standards set out in NHS regulations; however, no common framework exists to guide quality improvement. Previous phases of this research had developed a set of characteristics indicative of good pharmaceutical service provision.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To ask key stakeholders to confirm, and rank the importance of, a set of characteristics of good pharmaceutical service provision.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-round Delphi-type survey was conducted in south-west England and was sent to participants representing three stakeholder groups: DPs, CPs and patients/lay members. Participants were asked to confirm, and rank, the importance of these characteristics as representing good quality pharmaceutical services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty people were sent the first round survey; 22 participants completed both rounds. Median ratings for the 23 characteristics showed that all were seen to represent important aspects of pharmaceutical service provision. Participants' comments highlighted potential problems with the practicality of the characteristics. Characteristics relating to patient safety were deemed to be the most important and those relating to public health the least important.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A set of 23 characteristics for providing good pharmaceutical services in CPs and DPs was developed and attained approval from a sample of stakeholders. With further testing and wider discussion, it is hoped that the characteristics will form the basis of a quality improvement tool for CPs and DPs.
authors.affiliation: Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grey
authors.affiliation: Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Sport and Exercise Science Centre, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rodham
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, UK. m.weiss@bath.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marjorie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards*; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D006113:United Kingdom; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards
keywords: community pharmacy; dispensing doctor; health services quality; pharmacy services; quality improvement