Public health
Work in the theme of public health includes:
Pharmacists' roles in improving the health of the public
Research carried out by Professor Claire Anderson, Professor Alison Blenkinsopp, Keele University and Miriam Armstrong,
PharmacyHealthLink has had a direct influence on Government plans to reform the role of the pharmacist in public health in the UK. Improving the public's health and reducing health inequalities is a key aim for the UK – against this policy it is important to know where community pharmacy can contribute to improving the public's health. The Government's long-term plans to overhaul and modernise the NHS have prompted enormous changes for every health professional and has highlighted the need for them to develop new and more effective ways of working.
The seven reports published from 2001-2009 have informed government policy. Initially the work informed the production of the UK Government document 'Choosing Health Through Pharmacy' in 2005. The Department of Health commissioned an update of the literature reviews in 2007 specifically to inform policy on the future of pharmacy. The Government’s White Paper, 'Pharmacy In England: Building On Strengths – Delivering The Future', was published in 2008 and includes reference to Claire Anderson’s research input in Chapter 6. The White Paper has now completed its consultation phase and is being implemented by the Department of Health and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. For example, pharmacists are now being commissioned to deliver a number of public health services, such as smoking cessation, emergency contraception services and vascular checks, as part of their contracts.
Injection use and antibiotic use in Bangladesh
Claire Anderson has worked with Professor A K Chowdhury and colleagues from Dhaka University the Department of Health and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
For example, pharmacists are now being commissioned to deliver a number of public health services, such as smoking cessation, emergency contraception services and vascular checks, as part of their contracts.
Sexual Health
We have two major areas of sexual health research: pharmacy supply of emergency hormonal contraception and HIV. We did much of the research surrounding the introduction of sale and supply of emergency contraception in community pharmacy.
We are currently looking at Chlamydia screening in pharmacy and communication during pharmacy sexual health consultations. Dr Tapash Roy who was co supervised by Claire Anderson and Dr Catrin Evans in nursing, received a prestigious HIV Research Trust Fellowship for his PhD work looking at taxi drivers’ awareness of HIV and sexual health issues in Dhaka City, Bangladesh