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Browsing by Author "TIONG CHI KAI"

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    Exploring Community Pharmacists' Perspectives on Sustainable Practices: A Qualitative Study
    (IMU University, 2026)
    TIONG CHI KAI
    Sustainability in healthcare has gained increasing attention globally, yet limited research has explored its application within community pharmacy practice, particularly in the Malaysian context. Community pharmacies play a dual role as healthcare providers and small-to-medium business entities, positioning them uniquely to contribute to sustainability initiatives. This study aimed to explore community pharmacists’ perceptions of sustainability, guided by the three dimensions of sustainability - environmental, social, and economic. A qualitative design was employed using semi-structured interviews with practising community pharmacists across Malaysia. Recruitment considered diversity in years of experience, position, seniority, practice setting, and ethnicity. Interviews were transcribed, verified by participants, and analysed thematically through an iterative process involving two coders to enhance rigour and credibility. A total of 15 community pharmacists (6 men and 9 women) initially consented to take part in the study. Two participants did not attend the scheduled interviews, resulting in a final sample of 13 participants. Findings indicated that environmental sustainability practices such as medicine disposal programmes and plastic reduction initiatives were recognised but inconsistently implemented, with barriers including customer attitudes, workload, and lack of enforcement. Social sustainability was reflected in pharmacists’ emphasis on equitable access to care, patient trust, and professional reputation, although challenges such as workforce stress and limited engagement in wider health equity initiatives were noted. Economic sustainability was strongly linked to business viability, service diversification, and reputation as drivers for long-term resilience. The study highlights uneven adoption of sustainability practices, with stronger visibility in areas supported by public awareness and regulatory measures, such as plastic reduction, compared to less enforced domains like medicine disposal and energy conservation. These findings underscore the need for integrated policies, professional guidance, and educational support to embed sustainability more consistently in community pharmacy practice. This research contributes context-specific insights into how Malaysian community pharmacists conceptualise and enact sustainability, offering implications for policy development, professional training, and future research.

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