Abstract
Background: Community pharmacies are increasingly recognised internationally for their role in managing minor ailments and providing accessible, convenient care. In Aotearoa New Zealand, however, pharmacies remain underutilised, despite growing pressures on general practice and the wider health system, highlighting the need to understand public perspectives and preferences to inform service development.
Aim: This thesis examines public perspectives and preferences regarding pharmacy-based care for minor ailments in Aotearoa New Zealand, exploring the factors influencing decisions to use pharmacies and the implications for service design and equitable access.
Method: A mixed-methods design was adopted, comprising a narrative literature review, mapping of healthcare access pathways, focus groups, a cross-sectional survey, and a discrete choice experiment (DCE). This sequential design integrated qualitative and quantitative approaches to capture both depth and generalisability. Together, these methods examined public awareness, perceived barriers and enablers, willingness to pay, and the relative importance of pharmacist and pharmacy attributes in shaping preferences for care.
Findings: While there is strong public support for pharmacists’ involvement in managing minor ailments, uptake remains constrained by preferences for GP care, limited awareness of pharmacists’ roles, and concerns about cost and prescribing restrictions. Convenience, accessibility, and trust in the pharmacist’s advice were key enablers, but barriers such as privacy, the retail environment, and perceptions of pharmacist busyness persisted. Affordability was the dominant factor shaping preferences, highlighting the importance of subsidies to ensure equitable access. Confidence in pharmacists’ advice and their ability to prescribe and supply treatments also strongly shaped public choices, reflecting expectations of comprehensive, convenient care. Collectively, these findings indicate that the successful implementation of a national minor ailments scheme in Aotearoa New Zealand will require subsidised access, broader prescribing authority, and ongoing efforts to build public trust and awareness.
Conclusion: This research provides robust evidence that public support for pharmacy-based management of minor ailments in Aotearoa New Zealand is strong but contingent on affordability, trust, and awareness of pharmacists’ roles. By integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches, it identifies key enablers and barriers to pharmacy use, as well as service design priorities. Realising this potential will depend on sustainable funding to ensure affordability, expanded pharmacist prescribing, and effective communication strategies to enhance public understanding. Implementing these measures could improve timely access to care, strengthen equity, and relieve pressure on general practice and the wider health system.