Community pharmacy compounding-impact on professional status

Abstract

Aim of the review: Extemporaneous compounding has been a core function for pharmacists and was the basis of pharmacy's claim to professional status. The re-emergence of compounding as a specialised practice warrants investigation regarding the influence of this practice on pharmacy's professional status. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of extemporaneous compounding to the professional status of pharmacists in community practice.

Method: A search of the literature was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, IPA, ISI WEB OF KNOWLEDGE, PROQUEST SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNALS, JSTOR and SOCIOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS databases to identify relevant original research articles, reviews or commentaries.

Results: Compounding was an important part of pharmacy's claim to professional status. The expansion of the pharmaceutical industry and decline in demand for compounded medications led to a view that pharmacy suffered a loss of professional status. In recent decades patient centred services have been introduced as a reprofessionalisation strategy. Evidence suggests that compounding, as a specialty practice based on a patient centred approach, is increasingly provided in Australia and the United States.

Conclusion: Compounding has emerged as a specialised area of pharmacy practice in Australia and the United States, and when practiced as a patient centred activity may be a strategy for reprofessionalisation. The extension of compounding beyond mere supply and distribution of a pharmaceutical product to become a platform for development of collaborative professional relationships may also lead to enhanced professional status of pharmacists.