MPharm graduates’ perspectives on their undergraduate preparation for public health activities in practice: A qualitative study

Mulligan, Lisa; White, Simon; Gifford, Alison

Abstract

Focal points
This study took a qualitative approach to exploring MPharm graduates’ involvement in local public health activities and their perspectives on how their undergraduate course had prepared them for this

Most participants reported regular involvement in activities including provision of advice and interventions, measurement of physical parameters and health promotion campaigns

The MPharm course was commonly reported to have prepared them by instilling confidence and understanding, but a lot of participants reported that they would have preferred more preparation and especially more experience gained through practice placements

Introduction
The contribution that pharmacy can make to public health has been increasingly recognized in recent years and there is increasing evidence of benefit for a range of public health pharmacy services.1 Studies have surveyed pharmacy students’ perceptions of pharmacists’ public health roles and responsibilities,1 but research exploring UK MPharm graduates’ subsequent involvement in public health activities and their perspectives on how their undergraduate education prepared them for this appears to be lacking. As such, this study aimed to explore these topics among MPharm graduates.

Methods
A qualitative approach was adopted on the basis of being well-suited to exploring the range and depth of participants’ perspectives.2 Following institutional ethical approval, in-depth digitally recorded telephone interviews were conducted with 22 MPharm graduates working in the UK either as pre-registration pharmacists or registered pharmacists. The sample included participants from three cohorts from one school of pharmacy who were working in a variety of primary and secondary care pharmacy environments to represent as broad a range of views as possible. Participants were recruited by email to those included on the alumni database and by posting messages on social networks such as Facebook, followed by telephone contact with those who replied. The interview guide was developed from the objectives of the study and a review of the literature. Key topics included involvement in local public health activity, barriers to such involvement and their perspectives on how their undergraduate learning experience had prepared them for public health roles in practice. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis.2

Results
Most of the participants who worked in community pharmacy reported regular involvement in health promotion activities especially those aimed at prevention of cardiovascular disease. In addition to provision of brief advice, this included providing smoking cessation-related interventions and measurements of body mass index and blood cholesterol concentrations. Several participants reported undertaking blood pressure monitoring, whilst others gave examples of health promotion campaigns they had participated in on topics such as inhaler technique, lung cancer and smoking. One participant reported setting up their own ‘social enterprise’ to improve local health, which had included opening a ‘ladies gymnasium’ to ‘promote exercise’. Participants working in hospital pharmacy also reported involvements in initiatives aimed at increasing adherence to medicines. Barriers to involvement in public health activities that were reported included time and space constraints in the pharmacy. The most commonly reported way that the undergraduate course had prepared students for these activities was in giving them confidence to talk to patients about lifestyle risk factors. Others ways that were frequently reported included gaining understanding of why health promotion is important and the ability to design, deliver and evaluate health promotion campaigns. However, a lot of participants reported that they would have preferred more preparation and in particular more experience gained through practice placements.

Discussion
The findings suggest that graduates are actively involved in public health activities as part of their routine practice and that the MPharm course prepares them for this. However, more real-life practical experience from placements may prepare students even more for future public health roles.

Citation

Mulligan, L., White, S., & Gifford, A. (2013, September). MPharm graduates’ perspectives on their undergraduate preparation for public health activities in practice: A qualitative study. Poster presented at Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Annual Conference 2013, Birmingham, UK

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Annual Conference 2013
• Conference Location: Birmingham, UK
• Start Date: Sep 8, 2013
• End Date: Sep 9, 2013
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2023
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/ijpp/article/21/Supplement_2/30/6102062
• Additional Information: Poster number; 0148