Jeroen van de Pol

140 Chapter 5.2 Introduction The community pharmacy profession is going through a reprofessionalization process developing a new role for the community pharmacist withmore emphasis on the provision of cognitive pharmaceutical services (CPS). Policymakers are becoming increasingly aware that community pharmacists can play an important role by providing CPS [1]. Concurrently, the capacity of the healthcare system is challenged by the increasing needs of the ageing population and because of the introduction of new technologies including medicines [2]. In reaction to this development, policymakers and professional bodies increasingly use Value Based Healthcare (VBH) in the design of healthcare facilities. In the concept of VBH, the preferences and needs of the general public and patients have a prominent place. Therefore, insights in the perspectives of patients can contribute to the design, implementation, amount of usage and evaluation of new health services such as CPS [3,4]. The definition of CPS is ‘ the use of specialized knowledge by the pharmacist for the patient or health professionals for the purpose of promoting effective and safe drug therapy’ [5], with examples being health promotion, the role of self-medication regarding minor ailments and medication management such as the medication review and improving adherence. CPS is increasingly offered all over the world [6]. Examples of such services are the Minor Ailment Scheme In the United Kingdom, the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement (6CPA) in Australia which offers for example medical checks for diabetes and the possibility for community pharmacists to offer publicly funded immunization in the majority of Canadian provinces [7-9]. In a previous study we showed that the majority of the general public prefers convenience (e.g. short waiting times) over CPS (e.g. the possibility of a private consultation with a pharmacist) [10]. However, in this previous study we described currently available services from community pharmacies and did not present the possibility of more innovative services. A community pharmacy serves a heterogeneous population regarding age, health state and the number of medicines in use. [11]. Thus it can be expected that each community pharmacy is confronted with different needs and preferences related to CPS and convenience for these different patients. Providing insights in preferences of patients and identifying certain classes of patients based on similar preferences, can provide guidance in further developing pharmacy services. Therefore, the goal of this study is to identify patients’ preferences for future services both regarding convenience and CPS that could be provided in Dutch community pharmacies and to identify classes of patients that share similar preferences.