The roles of community pharmacists in managing patients with diabetes: Perceptions of health care professionals in Nova Scotia

Background: Community pharmacists could reduce the clinical and economic burden of diabetes by participating in diabetes management. Pharmacists' roles in collaboration with other health care professionals should be understood before any community pharmacy-based programs focusing on diabetes management are designed and implemented. Methods: A sample of primary health care physicians, community pharmacists, and nurses and dieticians from Diabetes Centres in the Capital Health District of Nova Scotia were interviewed on their perceptions of community pharmacists' role in diabetes care. A semistructured format was used. Data were compiled and analyzed descriptively, and are reported here in terms of the roles of community pharmacists in this setting. Results: A total of 18 health care professionals were interviewed: 8 (44%) primary health care physicians, 6 (33%) community pharmacists, and 4 (22%) nurses and dieticians. All responses were analyzed, and six general roles for community pharmacists were identified, such as education about drug therapy (83% of respondents), followed by providing information to patients about glucose monitoring and healthy lifestyles (67% of respondents). Conclusion: In a pilot project (n = 18), Nova Scotia health care professionals supported pharmacists' role in diabetic care, such as educating patients about drug therapy.