Research Appraisals
Evidence-based critical appraisals of the latest medical research, systematically evaluated using Oxford CEBM methodology.
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Role of community pharmacy in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in minority ethnic groups in the UK including barriers and facilitators: a mixed-methods systematic review
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of community pharmacy in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among minority ethnic groups and to identify key barriers and facilitators influencing engagement with pharmacy-based CVD prevention services. DESIGN: Systematic review using thematic synthesis to analyse both qualitative data and narratively synthesised quantitative data taking a convergent data synthesis approach. Searches were conducted from inception to 16 October 2024 across CINAHL Ultimate (EBSCOhost), EMBASE (Ovid), PubMed (NLM), Scopus (Elsevier) and Web of Science (Clarivate), supplemented by Google Scholar for grey literature and backward and forward citation tracking to identify additional studies. SETTING: Community pharmacy settings across multiple countries, including the UK and international contexts. PARTICIPANTS: Minority ethnic groups accessing community pharmacy services and community pharmacy professionals involved in delivering CVD prevention interventions. INTERVENTIONS: Community pharmacy-based CVD prevention interventions, specifically services addressing CVD risk factors. OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes comprised qualitative insights, including barriers and facilitators to engagement with community pharmacy-led CVD prevention services. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies met the eligibility criteria. Five overarching themes were identified: trust, systemic barriers, culturally tailored language, cultural and religious influences and family and social networks. Community pharmacies undertook varied CVD-related roles, most commonly CVD screening and diabetes management with additional contributions to smoking cessation, weight and lipid management, health promotion and medication adherence. Community pharmacies showed potential to support CVD prevention among minority ethnic groups. However, engagement was limited by language barriers, cultural beliefs, lack of trust in healthcare providers and organisational constraints such as time pressures and limited training. Facilitators included culturally tailored interventions, language concordance and strong pharmacist-patient relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from the UK remains limited, highlighting a need for further research into the role of community pharmacy in reducing CVD disparities among minority ethnic groups. International evidence suggests significant potential for pharmacy-based interventions, but improved cultural competence, targeted service design and greater awareness of determinants of equitable healthcare are essential. Future research should focus on optimising culturally responsive pharmacy-led CVD prevention strategies. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024579766.
29 May 2026
Read appraisal →European journal of hospital pharmacy : science and practice
A collaborative telepharmacy model for dispensing and informed delivery from hospital to community pharmacies
BACKGROUND: This study examines the implementation of a collaborative telepharmacy programme in an outpatient pharmaceutical care unit (OPCU) at a tertiary hospital. The programme coordinates between the hospital pharmacy, community pharmacies, a pharmaceutical distributor, and the regional official college of pharmacists to optimise medication dispensing and delivery to outpatients. METHODS: The programme addressed challenges in operations, logistics, technology, legality, training and information. A protocol was developed defining the collaborative dispensing circuit, including criteria for patient selection and prioritisation. RESULTS: Over 39 months, 13 310 shipments were made to 1039 patients, averaging 17 daily. Each patient received about 13 deliveries. A total of 14 283 medications from 258 specialties were dispensed. The programme saved 512 534 km and 542 164 min (356 days) in travel. Each patient saved approximately 493 km and 522 min, reducing CO2 emissions by 58-116 kg per patient, or 72-145 tonnes overall. A survey of 130 patients revealed a 93% preference for this model over home or healthcare facility delivery. DISCUSSION: The implementation of telepharmacy programmes for dispensing hospital medication to community pharmacies marks a significant advancement in patient care. Initially rare, telepharmacy is now widespread, overcoming previous barriers. Programmes show similar effectiveness to home delivery, improving workflow and safety. Future improvements may include remote monitoring tools and video calls. Despite some limitations, such as economic analysis and tracking, telepharmacy has proven beneficial for patients, offering cost savings and enhanced confidentiality. CONCLUSION: The collaborative telepharmacy circuit was efficiently and safely implemented, offering an innovative approach that meets the needs and expectations of patients in the OPCU.
26 Apr 2026
Read appraisal →International journal of medical informatics
Prioritising digital health technologies in Australian community pharmacy: a delphi study identifying barriers, enablers, and policy implications for implementation
OBJECTIVE: To determine priority digital health technologies for Australian community pharmacies and identify the key barriers, enablers, and policy/funding factors that can inform future implementation planning through expert consensus. METHODS: A two-round Delphi study was conducted with 31 experts representing pharmacy, academia, policy, and digital health. In Round 1, participants identified priority technologies, barriers, and enablers. In Round 2, 27 participants ranked five technologies, nine policy options, and six financial models. Consensus was assessed using descriptive statistics and interquartile ranges (IQRs). RESULTS: E-prescriptions and My Health Record (MyHR) were ranked as top priorities (mean = 1.70 and 2.22; IQR ≤ 1.0). Key barriers included financial constraints, interoperability issues, and digital literacy gaps. Telehealth incentives received the strongest agreement among participants, while reimbursement-based funding and government support were rated as the most supportive financial models for implementation. Broader enablers, such as a national medicine repository and stronger cross-disciplinary collaboration, were also endorsed. CONCLUSION: Digital health adoption in community pharmacy requires prioritisation of core technologies, improved system integration, workforce training, and practical funding mechanisms. These findings offer guidance for policymakers, pharmacy leaders, and digital health stakeholders aiming to embed digital tools more consistently and effectively into pharmacy practice.
15 Apr 2026
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