The role of the pharmacist is evolving in the healthcare environment. There are strong drivers including government and patient groups encouraging the pharmacists’ role to move towards performing new services where they are part of a multi-professional team delivering optimum healthcare to patients.
This changing role of the pharmacist necessitates high quality research from a pharmaceutical and psychological perspective to determine its effect in the healthcare arena.
Social Pharmacy Research aims to investigate issues involved with patient and practitioner cognitions (the mental processes by which we perceive and make sense of the world, for example, perception, thought and decision-making),attitudes and behaviour in pharmacy practice and education.
Current projects include
- Work with paediatric medicine. Research is led by Dr Paul Gard, Dr Angela MacAdam and Dr Sian Williams looking at medication adherence and unlicensed medicine use in children. The study is in collaboration with Professor Helena Lutéscia L Coelho from the University of Fortaleza in Brazil and Mr Tony Nunn from the AlderHay Hospital in Liverpool. A current PhD study is looking at how medicine-related factors may influence medication adherence in paediatric patients aged between 3 and 11 years. In addition, a research project was carried out looking at children’s understanding of medicines funded by the Wellcome Trust.
- Patient mood and health outcomes. Research in this area is led by Dr Sian Williams. A current PhD study is looking at the relationship between ‘positive affect’ and physiological and psychological health outcomes in people with Type 2 Diabetes. Work is also being carried out into the effectiveness and usefulness of simple psychological interventions in promoting positive health behaviours.
- The role of empathy in consultation skills. This area of research is led by Dr Angela MacAdam who was awarded a grant of £6360 from the Creativity Development Fund to look at ways of enhancing empathy skills on the MPharm programme.
- The effect of student volunteering in inter-generational situations on two-way learning and self-efficacy. This work is being conducted by Mr Mike Ellis-Martin and has been awarded a grant by CuPP for £25,000. The work is conducted in collaboration with the Professor Ann Moore in the School of Health Professions.
- Patients understanding of their illness/condition and treatment by applying psychological models within the pharmaceutical domain. This area of research is led by Dr Sian Williams in collaboration with the psychology department at University of Sussex.
- Patients’ and pharmacists’ knowledge of and attitudes towards counterfeit drugs. This PhD study is being led by Dr Paul Gard and Dr Angela MacAdam.
