The landscape of self-care in Australia: A pharmacy perspective
Metadata
Show full item recordEditorial
Elsevier
Materia
Community pharmacy Pharmacy practice Self care
Date
2024Referencia bibliográfica
Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy 13 (2024) 100396 [10.1016/j.rcsop.2023.100396]
Abstract
The evolving landscape of self-care in Australia underscores the imperative of recognizing and integrating the
crucial role of pharmacists in promoting greater levels of self-care. Although the social and economic justifications
for self-care are acknowledged internationally and in the literature, there is very little policy recognition in
relation to self-care specifically in Australian health policy. Additionally, the distinct contributions of pharmacies
to self-care, i.e., their experiences and accessibility in primary health care, are not consistently highlighted.
Community pharmacies in Australia are currently navigating a transformative shift, expanding their scope of
practice to deliver highly individualized care, with a special emphasis on the implementation of professional
services crucial for the sector’s enduring viability. Although pharmacists already play a substantial role in
supporting self-care, there exists a compelling demand for a systematic and structured approach. Despite the
limited availability of theoretical frameworks or models for pharmacists in self-care support within the existing
literature, tangible practical evidence attests to the success of interventions. In an era where patients increasingly
assume responsibility for self-managing conditions, the pharmacist’s role in facilitating self-care and judicious
self-medication is pivotal, promising not only tangible benefits for individuals but also contributing significantly
to the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system in Australia. This necessitates a strategic and comprehensive
framework that positions pharmacists as essential catalysts in the broader landscape of healthcare,
ensuring their contributions are optimally leveraged to enhance patient outcomes and system efficiency.