The availability of pharmacists with Additional Prescribing Authorization in relation to the distribution of vulnerable populations – A cross-sectional study
Abstract
For vulnerable patients (immigrants or those with low income), it is crucial for pharmacists to be accessible to allow patients benefit from pharmacists’ advanced services, such as independent prescribing. This research examines the geographical relationship between Alberta pharmacists with Additional Prescribing Authorization (APA) and a neighbourhood’s proportion of vulnerable populations. Our research shows that high income areas estimated to have 0.44 more APA pharmacists. Similarly, areas with the highest number of recent immigrants were estimated to have 0.66 more APA pharmacists than other aggregated dissemination areas. A sizable proportion of the Alberta population still does not have access to a pharmacist with APA, and those with APA seem to concentrate in areas with higher income and higher proportions of the population who are immigrants. Future research should examine the utilization of expanded scope of practice in relation to the distribution of vulnerable populations.
Notes
Location
Alberta
Key recommendations
Pharmacists are considered an important frontline healthcare provider, and access to a pharmacist is considered an important variable in health equity.
Key populations
Immigrants who arrived since 2006
Key findings
Article examines the geographic relationship between pharmacists practicing under expanded scope and the proportion of vulnerable population (low income and immigrant status) living in the pharmacy’s neighbourhood. Findings: Pharamcists with expanded scope are concentrated in areas with higher income and high concentrations of new immigrants. This is a paradoxical finding – high income is not surprising but high level of immigrants is, and warrants further study
Gaps identified
NA
Community organizations
NA
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
NA
Open-access – No