Transforming Care: Exploring Consumer and Pharmacist Perceptions of Expanded Pharmacy Practice in Rural and Remote Communities

Accessing essential healthcare services presents a challenge for consumers living in rural and remote communities, leading to higher rates of chronic disease and poorer health outcomes. Community pharmacists are well positioned to address this lack of access; thus, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of rural and remote consumers and pharmacists with respect to community pharmacists expanding their services in these communities. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with consumers and pharmacists recruited from community pharmacies in the far north, north west, and central west Queensland. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided question development, with the responses deductively coded and thematically analysed. Thirteen pharmacists and twenty-three consumers were interviewed, with both groups citing the benefit of reduced wait times. Key barriers were pharmacist workload, time constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and limited consumer awareness of services. Pharmacists highlighted the need for better reimbursement models and professional collaboration, while consumers valued accessibility and convenience but were concerned about the costs of services. This study has highlighted the benefits of expanded pharmacy services as perceived by the key stakeholders: consumers and pharmacists. However, future research investigating a larger sample in more rural and remote locations is needed to ensure the successful implementation of sustainable funding models to deliver better access and health outcomes for consumers in these communities.