According to new findings, pharmacists are increasingly acknowledged for their essential contributions to supporting patients receiving home-based palliative care in rural areas. This research indicates that these professionals empower patients to remain at home and deliver considerable comfort and reassurance to patients, their caregivers, and their families.
The research, conducted by the University of South Australia with the support of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, demonstrates that pharmacists specializing in home palliative care significantly improve medication management, enhance communication between patients and their healthcare teams, and reduce the need for general practitioner visits.
The study focuses on the real-world influence of home palliative care pharmacists in rural South Australia. It evaluates the efficacy of this care model through the lens of healthcare professionals.
Globally, approximately 56.8 million people, including 25.7 million in their final year of life, require palliative care. However, only about 14% of those in need receive these services. As the population ages, the demand for palliative care is rising worldwide.
Tash Downing, the lead researcher and pharmacist, points out that although pharmacists are not traditionally seen as part of home palliative care teams, they hold an invaluable position.
“Many patients in palliative care express a preference for being at home, where they feel most comfortable and close to their loved ones. Nevertheless, home-based care presents numerous challenges, particularly in managing medications,” explains Downing.
Effective medication management can alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life, but it often burdens patients, caregivers, and other medical professionals.
“Our findings suggest that incorporating a pharmacist into the rural palliative care team can mitigate workforce shortages in these areas and elevate the standard of available care for rural patients,” Downing adds.
Crucially, having a local pharmacist allows patients to make more informed choices about their care. They benefit from trusted, regional coordination of prescriptions and medications, reduced need for travel to appointments, and lower levels of distress.
Health professionals participating in the study also noted that the presence of a home palliative care pharmacist improved communication with the treating team, lightened the workload for other health professionals, and lessened the care disparity between rural and urban patients.
The pilot program, launched by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and funded by the South Australian Department for Health and Wellbeing, facilitated a pharmacist to deliver home-based care services in regional South Australia. This study assessed the care model by exploring the experiences of healthcare professionals who had worked with the palliative care patients involved in this initiative.
Dr. Gemma Skaczkowski, a co-researcher from the Department of Rural Health at the University of South Australia, remarks that this rural model of palliative care has been exceedingly effective in the areas participating in the pilot.
“By delineating the benefits and challenges of the pharmacist’s role as perceived by other healthcare professionals, we aim to draw more attention to the necessity of such a care model in rural settings and, ultimately, to enhance the palliative experience for patients, irrespective of their location,” says Dr Skaczkowski.
She emphasizes that further efforts are needed to explore sustainable funding for this model and to determine the best practices for broader implementation.
More information: Natasha J. Downing et al, A qualitative exploration of the role of a palliative care pharmacist providing home-based care in the rural setting, from the perspective of health care professionals, Australian Journal of Rural Health. DOI: 10.1111/ajr.13115
Journal information: Australian Journal of Rural Health Provided by University of South Australia
