Development of an adaptation framework to identify education and training requirements of community pharmacy staff for minor ailment services in Australia

University of Technology Sydney. Graduate School of Health.Community pharmacists are well positioned to offer primary health care through a range of professional pharmacy services. Minor ailment services (MASs) are an evolving professional service that support individuals to manage minor conditions. There is a paucity of research regarding the implementation of MASs and frameworks to facilitate adaptation to new health care systems. The exploration of service design and adaptation requirements is beneficial to optimise MAS provision. To identify the adaptation requirements for the implementation of MASs in Australia. The research undertaken in this thesis explores the implementation and service design elements of international MASs and investigates the education and training requirements of community pharmacy staff. A systematic review was conducted to explore implementation processes that led to a proposed service design model. A qualitative study was conducted to explore stakeholders’ views and experiences regarding the implementation elements of international MASs, including the appropriateness of education and training for community pharmacy staff. Next, a systematic scoping review was conducted to explore one element of MAS implementation; the education and training needs of community staff involved in MASs delivery. A qualitative research study was undertaken to determine if the existing education and training practices of pharmacy staff involved in MAS provision met professional practice requirements in Australia. Finally, a modified Delphi mixed methods study was designed to determine stakeholder consensus regarding the scope, role, education and training practices of community pharmacy staff associated with MAS delivery. A MAS design model was developed identifying key elements to be considered for implementation which included education and training. Limited education and training was identified for community pharmacists and non-pharmacist staff including Medicines Counter Assistants to support MAS delivery. The absence of standardised training for all pharmacy staff in the delivery of MASs was a potential barrier to service provision. The scope and education and training needs of Australian community pharmacy staff associated with MASs were identified primarily through stakeholder consensus. Findings suggest that all community pharmacy staff should be trained in the clinical and non-clinical elements of MASs. The future implementation of MASs in Australia requires consideration of several adaptation requirements, including remuneration, inter-professional collaboration and staff education and training. A suite of recommendations regarding the need for structured education and training practices for all MAS stakeholders are provided. A proposed adaptation framework has been developed which could be utilised for the implementation of future professional pharmacy services