A mixed-method study of community pharmacy staff's use, perceptions and acceptance of barcode scanning technology

• Sparse implementation of barcode scanning technology was identified in Scotland. Variation associated with use may pose safety concerns. The purpose for which is used underpin staff acceptance. Greater efforts are needed to increase within community pharmacy. Increasing a strategic goal pharmacy facilitate medicines’ dispensing. Barcode (BST) considered low cost and reliable potential benefits. A barrier BST hospital includes resistance; however, few studies explore To address this, staff's use, perceptions acceptance Scottish pharmacies were examined. Community Scotland using scan medicines Twitter, eNewsletters snowball sampling; 57 identified. Between May-Aug 2019, managers/owners participated semi-structured interviews operating completed an online questionnaire examine Interview data underwent content analysis presented as medians (IQR). various purposes, most commonly dispensed item verification ( n = 43 pharmacies) identify falsified 10 pharmacies). Twenty interviewed revealed multiple scanners functionalities. Thirty-five participants from 16 the questionnaire. Staff easy use. There positive verification, negative less identifying medicines. minority Scotland's 1,254 pharmacies, greater effort be utilisation. variation affect due increased complexity. BST's Future should barriers observe practice. help dispense safely. Hospital have reported disliking medicines; no similar research has been carried out This study examined pharmacies’ medicines, views. Fifty-seven verify that correct medicine selected during dispensing ‘falsified not safe but more accepting verifying than suggests small number this purpose, therefore promote