Defining and evaluating green practices in pharmacy : a community pharmacy perspective

Abstract

Sustainability in pharmacy can be achieved through the implementation of green pharmacy practices. The aims of the study were to (i) evaluate the perception of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants working in Maltese community pharmacies towards green practices and to (ii) define the term “Green Pharmacy Practices”. The study was divided in two phases. In phase one, a self-administered questionnaire entitled ‘Green Practices in Community Pharmacy’ was developed to evaluate the perception of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistants about green practices in community pharmacies. In Phase 2, an e-Delphi technique, based on 3 rounds of sequential questionnaires, was used to achieve consensus about the definition of green pharmacy practice. The study was registered with the University of Malta Faculty Research Ethics Committee. A total of 105 participants, of which 88.6% (n=93) were community pharmacists, participated in phase 1. Out of the 105 participants, 52.4% (n=55) of the respondents have heard of the term green pharmacy practice. The most common sources from where the participants heard of green pharmacy practices included 33.3% (n=35) from the internet and 23.8% (n=25) from university. Seventy-six participants (62.9%) stated that they always practice stock rotation when receiving new products. Recycling measures were enforced often or always by 18.1% (n=19) and 55.2% (n=58) of the participants respectively. Green community pharmacy practices, such as examining the pharmacy’s energy consumption and energy saving measures, were never, rarely or occasionally implemented by 28.6% (n=30) and 21.9% (n=23) of the participants respectively. Ten participants, from different pharmaceutical sectors, accepted to participate in phase 2. The common keywords used by the panel for the definition of green pharmacy practice included: environment (n=7), impact (n=6), minimal/minimising (n=5) and negative (n=3). Waste management, education and digitalisation of services were amongst the principles mentioned by the panel which should be adopted as a guide in the application of green pharmacy practices. Being at the forefront of healthcare systems, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should be encouraged to employ greener practice during day-to-day operations, reduce pharmaceutical waste, discuss proper medicines disposal and increase environmental awareness and education amongst patients and other healthcare workers.