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A mixed methods study investigating the impact of COVID-19 on community pharmacy practice and pharmacist wellbeing.
Dr Aoife Fleming presented research at the SPHeRE 2021 conference 23rd Feb 2021:
A mixed methods study investigating the impact of COVID-19 on community pharmacy practice and pharmacist wellbeing.
The research team involved in this project are School of Pharmacy researchers Dr Kieran Dalton, Dr Aoife Fleming and Dr Suzanne McCarthy.
Pharmacy student, Caoimhe Murphy, was supported by the College of Medicine and Health SURE award 2020 to work on this project during summer 2020 and Pharmacy student, Ciara Kenny, gained research experience on this project during her APPEL Fourth year placement. The presentation outlined the preliminary findings of a qualitative interview study and national survey of Irish Community Pharmacists during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Caoimhe Murphy: "I was delighted to have had the opportunity this past summer to work alongside Dr Aoife Fleming, Dr Kieran Dalton and Dr Suzanne McCarthy in researching the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Irish pharmacists. I was also lucky enough to receive the SURE summer research support from the school of pharmacy, which helped to support me financially while I undertook this important research. My input in this research project was comprised of various roles including research design and analysis. I thoroughly enjoyed this research and was delighted to help highlight the essential role that pharmacists played in the pandemic. Despite taking part in this placement remotely, I always felt supported by the team. This summer project was an excellent opportunity for me to further explore my interest in research and I am very happy that I took part in it."
Ciara Kenny: "I was very happy to work on this study, as part of my APPEL fourth year experiential learning placement with UCC School of Pharmacy. Having worked part-time in community pharmacy throughout the pandemic, I can appreciate the huge contribution made by Irish pharmacists over the last twelve months. It was a privilege to play some small role in highlighting the experiences and challenges faced by community pharmacists in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through taking part in this research, I have developed a number of new skills such as quantitative analysis of survey results and academic writing, skills which will undoubtedly stand to me in my studies and future career. I would like to thank Dr Fleming, Dr McCarthy, Ms Caoimhe Murphy and in particular my placement preceptor, Dr Kieran Dalton, for giving me the opportunity to get involved with this study and for their support and guidance."
For further information see:
https://www.sphereprogramme.ie/conference-presentation-recordings/
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