Pharmacy Continence Care - Bladder and Bowel Website

prior to training (PIQ) and the same instrument administered at the conclusion of the
pilot Program (PEQ) to measure change against Program objectives and performance
indicators
• to evaluate consumer benefits, recruited customers (people with or at risk of
incontinence, and carers) would be asked to consent to and respond to a self-report
survey instrument at enrolment (in-pharmacy) for baseline data on awareness of
continence management, on their experience of the social, financial and physical impact
of incontinence, using the IIQ, and their past or present use of other health services for
incontinence. To measure benefit, the questionnaire would be re-administered by followup
telephone interview at three months post baseline
• to evaluate sustainability, the evaluation aimed to elucidate the business benefit to
pharmacies, improved consumer quality of life and any downstream outcomes such as
referrals to other health services.
In discussion with the Expert Advisory Group, it was agreed that the evaluation approach
should concentrate on whether the PCCP was a sustainable strategy, and not endeavour to
assess cost-benefit, which would not be possible in the time and with the data and resources
available.
The evaluation approach was consequently revised to accommodate two key evaluation
components:
• an evaluation of the effectiveness of information and assistance provided by pharmacists
o through increased identification and referral of consumers
o by assessing the quality of life impact of the intervention
• an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the service through assessment of the
perception of business impact on the pharmacy and the perception of impact on
consumer health and wellbeing.
The evaluation aimed to assess the extent to which the pilot PCCP Program, particularly the
training and pharmacy information and training resources, assisted community pharmacies
in:
• identifying those with untreated or poorly managed incontinence as well as people at risk
of incontinence
• effectively advising people with or at risk of incontinence, with resulting customer loyalty
and improved health outcomes
• providing a cost-effective service to those with or at risk of incontinence.
The evaluation considered both economic and non-economic behaviour on the part of
pharmacists, consumers of pharmacy services and other stakeholders in the management
and treatment of incontinence, across three broad dimensions:
• the business benefits and costs to pharmacies
• health gains and costs for consumers with or at risk of incontinence, and carers
• the take-up of/referral by other health services.
In addition, the effectiveness of the training provided was evaluated, as training is a key
component of the PCCP and will need to be fully compliant with QCPP standards and be
sustainable, affordable, attractive and effective for the PCCP to be provided nationally.
Appendix 1 provides the full text of evaluation instruments used.
The pharmacy questionnaires were administered by semi-structured telephone interview.
Final Report
22
NOVA Public Policy
Pharmacy Continence Care Project