dc.contributor.advisor | Lamprecht, J C | |
dc.contributor.author | Basson, Willem Diederick | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2018-07-30T10:52:45Z | |
dc.date.available | 2018-07-30T10:52:45Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2018 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10394/30613 | |
dc.description | PhD (Pharmacy Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2018 | en_US |
dc.description.abstract | The major purpose of this exploratory study was to understand what the perceptions are of
pharmacists in South Africa regarding their role in the medication adherence of a patient.
The WHO (World Health Organization) referred to medication non-adherence as a “worldwide
problem of striking magnitude” and improving adherence to medication has become a priority to
health care researchers and policy makers (WHO, 2003:xiii). Research suggests that 30% to 50%
of patients do not take their medicine for chronic conditions as prescribed (Horne et al., 2005:10).
The costs of medication non-adherence to patients are considered to be a missed opportunity for
treatment gain and, if their condition worsens, a possible decline in their quality of life (Clifford et
al., 2010:78). Medication adherence also had emerged as a multi-faceted phenomenon where
the best results are obtained if more than one facet can be addressed simultaneously. The
importance of the pharmacist as a factor in medication adherence cannot be negated because
the pharmacist fulfils an essential link in the chain of health-care to the patient
The general research objective of this study was to use the Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA)
approach to construct and describe the pharmacists’ cognitive mind map regarding the perceptual
views of their roles in South Africa in terms of medication adherence of patients.
IQA data were collected during three processes. A focus group with pharmacists, selected from
a constituency representing pharmacists from as many as possible parts of the pharmaceutical
sector in South Africa, identified the components (affinities) of the pharmacists’ perceptual
systems (Northcutt & McCoy, 2004:47). An analysis revealed six main categories, named
affinities, in IQA are External Barriers, Disposition, Communication Skills, Professionalism,
Information Role and Motivational Role
Individual semi-structured IQA interviews with pharmacists served to add richness and in-depth
descriptions of the meaning of the affinities.
A web-based questionnaire was developed with the purpose of capturing the responses of South
African pharmacists in terms of their perceived relationships of the affinities as generated by the
focus group.
External Barriers were identified as the primary driver of the system with Communication Skills in
the modulator role. The participants indicated the Motivational Role as the primary outcome
(primary role) regarding their roles in medication adherence. The system produced two identifiable loops or cycles namely The Turmoil loop and The
Pharmacists Portrayal Loop. Communication Skills modulated both loops, preventing them from
becoming vicious cycles spinning out of control to detrimentally affect the medication adherence
role of the pharmacist.
Pharmacists experience External Barriers very negatively as they cannot escape them or have
limited power or authority over them. External Barriers are a reality in the practice of pharmacists
in South Africa and ultimately determine the interaction and relationship with the patient.
The respondents considered Communication Skills as very important.
The perceptual system might not yet be a true representation of medication adherence but rather
a system reflecting compliance with medication. However, it shows a significant but unknowing
shift in terms of the principles of a formalised medication adherence structure.
The respondents perceived that they as pharmacists have a role to play in the medication
adherence of their patients and willingly accepted the role, as they really do care for their patients
and do want to help patients to the best of their ability.
This study was the first to be done on the perception of South African pharmacists on their role in
the medication adherence of their patients and provide new and previously unknown information
in the format of a system and model to benefit all pharmacists in South Africa | en_US |
dc.description.sponsorship | Medicine Usage in South Africa (MUSA) | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | North-West University (South Africa), Potchefstroom Campus | en_US |
dc.subject | Pharmacists | en_US |
dc.subject | Interactive qualitative analysis | en_US |
dc.subject | Medication adherence | en_US |
dc.subject | South Africa | en_US |
dc.subject | Patients | en_US |
dc.subject | Mind map | en_US |
dc.subject | Systems influence diagram | en_US |
dc.subject | External barriers | en_US |
dc.subject | Communication skills | en_US |
dc.title | Pharmacists' perceptual systems regarding their role in medication adherence in South Africa : an interactive qualitative analysis approach | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
dc.description.thesistype | Doctoral | en_US |