Poster 16: Minor Illness Training for Community Pharmacists – implementation and early evaluation

Kerry Street, Andrea Taylor, Nicholas Haddington

Research output: Contribution to conferencePoster

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Abstract

Background and Introduction
Digital Minor Illness Referral Service (DMIRS) and General Practice-DMIRS have been developed and piloted across England1,2 with the aim to reduce pressures on general practice, improve patient access to health professionals and draw on clinical expertise of community pharmacy. Hands-on training to enhance skills, practice and knowledge in minor illness diagnosis and support has been designed and delivered by the University of Bath in three locations across HEE South and London, supported by the Pharmacy Integration Fund.

Aims and Objectives
Aim: To evaluate the experiences of community pharmacists participating in postgraduate minor illness training

Objectives:
 Describe the background, prior experiences and exposure to DMIRS and GPDMIRS of community pharmacists participating in a Minor Illness training programme;
 Identify key minor illness areas currently supported by participants and frequency of interventions;
 Explore motivations, baseline knowledge and learning gain of participants

Method
A repeated measures, self-completion survey was administered to participants of Minor Illness training, delivered by University of Bath, at the mid module study day and on module completion.
Ethical review provided by the University of Bath. Basic descriptive statistics of quantitative responses and thematic analysis of qualitative responses was completed.

Results
37 participants completed the first survey (15 Bath; 11 London; 11 South Coast). Demographics of participants, areas of current minor ailments activity, frequency of intervention by condition area, are described. Self-assessment of prior knowledge, previous training and learning gain are presented.

Discussion and Conclusion
Many respondents were motivated to complete training due to recent commissioning of minor illness services, and had completed previous training. All identified scope for further, future development. Key learning at the mid-point of the course included: importance of good history taking, appropriate examinations, motivational interviewing and identification of red-flag signs and
symptoms. Further support and training is needed to fulfil the promise of community pharmacy as described in the NHS Long Term Plan (2019)3.

References
1. NHS England (2019) Digital Minor Illness Referral Service (DMIRS)
(https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/digital-minor-illness-referral-servicedmirs/)
2. NHS England (2018) Blog - Why our successful pharmacy minor illness referral scheme pilot is
being extended to three new areas (https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/why-our-successfulpharmacy-minor-illness-referral-scheme-pilot-is-being-extended-to-three-new-areas/)
3. NHS Long Term Plan (www.longtermplan.nhs.uk), January 2019
Original languageEnglish
Pages21
Number of pages1
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jun 2019

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