Perspectives of Pharmacists Towards Patient-Centred Mental Health Pharmacy Services: A Focus Group Study

Introduction: The rising prevalence of mental illness is a growing concern. Integrating pharmacists into mental health care teams could help address this challenge by improving service quality and accessibility for patients. This study investigates pharmacists' opinions regarding treatment car...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nurul Aziera A Rahim, Norny Syafinaz Ab Rahman, Khairul Azrul Abdul Rahman, Jia Yi Cheong, Nur Fazlin Abd Ghafar, Yasmin Ibrahim, Aida Roziana Ramlan, Syahrir Zaini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IIUM Press, International Islamic University Malaysia 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Pharmacy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.iium.edu.my/ktn/index.php/jp/article/view/301
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832576596371832832
author Nurul Aziera A Rahim
Norny Syafinaz Ab Rahman
Khairul Azrul Abdul Rahman
Jia Yi Cheong
Nur Fazlin Abd Ghafar
Yasmin Ibrahim
Aida Roziana Ramlan
Syahrir Zaini
author_facet Nurul Aziera A Rahim
Norny Syafinaz Ab Rahman
Khairul Azrul Abdul Rahman
Jia Yi Cheong
Nur Fazlin Abd Ghafar
Yasmin Ibrahim
Aida Roziana Ramlan
Syahrir Zaini
author_sort Nurul Aziera A Rahim
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The rising prevalence of mental illness is a growing concern. Integrating pharmacists into mental health care teams could help address this challenge by improving service quality and accessibility for patients. This study investigates pharmacists' opinions regarding treatment care in the Kuantan and Pekan areas and their attitudes toward patient-centred mental health pharmacy services.  Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with 63 pharmacists around Kuantan and Pekan, Pahang, utilising a focus group discussion (FGD) style. The pharmacists were selected through purposive sampling from 2 general hospitals, 2 district health offices, and 1 teaching hospital. All locations are primary healthcare in Malaysia. The focus group topic guide was created using the relevant literature research. The entire interviews were audio-recorded and then transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was performed inductively to analyse the data. Results: This study involved 14 focus group sessions with all 63 pharmacists participating. Every interview was in person at the designated sites. From the interviews, 6 key themes were identified. 1. Role of pharmacists in mental health care. 2. Pharmacists-patients’ interactions. 3. Interprofessional collaborations with other healthcare workers. 4. Challenges and barriers. 5. Training needs for pharmacists and lastly 6. Improvement on the role of pharmacists and future practice. Conclusion: This research explores Malaysian pharmacists' perspectives on mental health treatments. It highlights pharmacists' potential contributions to mental health care, the challenges they face when assisting patients with mental health conditions, and the current limitations of mental health services in Malaysia's primary healthcare settings, hospitals, and Klinik Kesihatan.
format Article
id doaj-art-0e39f626840948ca8cede86ac522289c
institution Kabale University
issn 2773-5664
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher IIUM Press, International Islamic University Malaysia
record_format Article
series Journal of Pharmacy
spelling doaj-art-0e39f626840948ca8cede86ac522289c2025-01-31T01:08:59ZengIIUM Press, International Islamic University MalaysiaJournal of Pharmacy2773-56642025-01-015110.31436/jop.v5i1.301Perspectives of Pharmacists Towards Patient-Centred Mental Health Pharmacy Services: A Focus Group StudyNurul Aziera A Rahim0Norny Syafinaz Ab Rahman1Khairul Azrul Abdul Rahman2Jia Yi Cheong3Nur Fazlin Abd Ghafar4Yasmin Ibrahim5Aida Roziana Ramlan6Syahrir Zaini7Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, PahangDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, PahangDepartment of Pharmacy, Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre @IIUM, Kuantan, Pahang.Indera Mahkota Health Clinic, Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.Pekan District Health Office, Kampung Pancur, Pekan, Pahang, MalaysiaTengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Jalan Tanah Putih, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.Pekan Hospital, Kampung Mengkasar, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia.Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang Introduction: The rising prevalence of mental illness is a growing concern. Integrating pharmacists into mental health care teams could help address this challenge by improving service quality and accessibility for patients. This study investigates pharmacists' opinions regarding treatment care in the Kuantan and Pekan areas and their attitudes toward patient-centred mental health pharmacy services.  Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with 63 pharmacists around Kuantan and Pekan, Pahang, utilising a focus group discussion (FGD) style. The pharmacists were selected through purposive sampling from 2 general hospitals, 2 district health offices, and 1 teaching hospital. All locations are primary healthcare in Malaysia. The focus group topic guide was created using the relevant literature research. The entire interviews were audio-recorded and then transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was performed inductively to analyse the data. Results: This study involved 14 focus group sessions with all 63 pharmacists participating. Every interview was in person at the designated sites. From the interviews, 6 key themes were identified. 1. Role of pharmacists in mental health care. 2. Pharmacists-patients’ interactions. 3. Interprofessional collaborations with other healthcare workers. 4. Challenges and barriers. 5. Training needs for pharmacists and lastly 6. Improvement on the role of pharmacists and future practice. Conclusion: This research explores Malaysian pharmacists' perspectives on mental health treatments. It highlights pharmacists' potential contributions to mental health care, the challenges they face when assisting patients with mental health conditions, and the current limitations of mental health services in Malaysia's primary healthcare settings, hospitals, and Klinik Kesihatan. https://journals.iium.edu.my/ktn/index.php/jp/article/view/301Qualitative study PerspectivesHospital pharmacists Mental health services
spellingShingle Nurul Aziera A Rahim
Norny Syafinaz Ab Rahman
Khairul Azrul Abdul Rahman
Jia Yi Cheong
Nur Fazlin Abd Ghafar
Yasmin Ibrahim
Aida Roziana Ramlan
Syahrir Zaini
Perspectives of Pharmacists Towards Patient-Centred Mental Health Pharmacy Services: A Focus Group Study
Journal of Pharmacy
Qualitative study
Perspectives
Hospital pharmacists
Mental health services
title Perspectives of Pharmacists Towards Patient-Centred Mental Health Pharmacy Services: A Focus Group Study
title_full Perspectives of Pharmacists Towards Patient-Centred Mental Health Pharmacy Services: A Focus Group Study
title_fullStr Perspectives of Pharmacists Towards Patient-Centred Mental Health Pharmacy Services: A Focus Group Study
title_full_unstemmed Perspectives of Pharmacists Towards Patient-Centred Mental Health Pharmacy Services: A Focus Group Study
title_short Perspectives of Pharmacists Towards Patient-Centred Mental Health Pharmacy Services: A Focus Group Study
title_sort perspectives of pharmacists towards patient centred mental health pharmacy services a focus group study
topic Qualitative study
Perspectives
Hospital pharmacists
Mental health services
url https://journals.iium.edu.my/ktn/index.php/jp/article/view/301
work_keys_str_mv AT nurulazieraarahim perspectivesofpharmaciststowardspatientcentredmentalhealthpharmacyservicesafocusgroupstudy
AT nornysyafinazabrahman perspectivesofpharmaciststowardspatientcentredmentalhealthpharmacyservicesafocusgroupstudy
AT khairulazrulabdulrahman perspectivesofpharmaciststowardspatientcentredmentalhealthpharmacyservicesafocusgroupstudy
AT jiayicheong perspectivesofpharmaciststowardspatientcentredmentalhealthpharmacyservicesafocusgroupstudy
AT nurfazlinabdghafar perspectivesofpharmaciststowardspatientcentredmentalhealthpharmacyservicesafocusgroupstudy
AT yasminibrahim perspectivesofpharmaciststowardspatientcentredmentalhealthpharmacyservicesafocusgroupstudy
AT aidarozianaramlan perspectivesofpharmaciststowardspatientcentredmentalhealthpharmacyservicesafocusgroupstudy
AT syahrirzaini perspectivesofpharmaciststowardspatientcentredmentalhealthpharmacyservicesafocusgroupstudy