scholarly journals The Practice of Counseling by Community Pharmacists in Bisha Health Directorate, Saudi Arabia – Simulated Patient Visit

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Mohammed Al Qarni ◽  
Tahani Alrahbeni ◽  
Ayidh M AlQarni ◽  
Abdullah Alqarni
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Patient Simulation ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Simulated Patient ◽  
World Health ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Patient Visit ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Directorate

Abstract Background Many organizations have suggested a minimum standard of counseling for patients, which includes information about the name of the drug, description, indication, how to use it, the method of treatment, precautions, adverse reactions, and any contraindications. Correspondingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended spending at least 3 minutes with each patient to undertake counseling. The present study aimed to evaluate the practice of counseling by community pharmacists for both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription-only medicines in Bisha Health Directorate, Saudi Arabia. Method This was a cross-sectional study designed to be a simulation patient visit to community pharmacies at Bisha area. The simulated patient visit were include 73 pharmacies. Two scenarios were used in the simulated patient visit. The first scenario was for a prescription-only medicine and the second scenario was for an OTC medicine. The time recorded for every visit to evaluate counsling period. Results A total of 105 visits were conducted to the community pharmacies as follows: scenario 1 = 73 and scenario 2 = 32. The average time for the simulation was 110 seconds in scenario 1 and 73.4 seconds in scenario 2. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the period it took for the simulation scenario and the time of visit during the day (rho = −0.396, p = 0.001) in the patient simulation. Conclusion It that the service in community pharmacies is selling medicines and patient needs to be given a greaterin these community pharmacies.

scholarly journals Community Pharmacists’ Practice, Awareness, and Beliefs about Drug Disposal in Saudi Arabia

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 823
Author(s):  
Sultan Alghadeer ◽  
Mohammed N. Al-Arifi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Take Back ◽  
Medication Disposal

The awareness among Saudi people regarding the good and safe practice of drug disposal is fairly low. Community pharmacists’ potential toward drugs disposal directions and practice are not emphasized enough. Therefore, a cross sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the practice, awareness and beliefs of community pharmacists about disposal of unused drugs. Out of 360 subjects who participated in the study, more than 70% returned the unused drugs to the pharmaceutical distributors. Around 80% of the participants confirmed the risk of environmental damage due to the inappropriate disposal of drugs, and 87.5% of them held themselves responsible for preventing such risk. Approximately 85% of surveyed pharmacists believed community pharmacies to be an appropriate location for the collection of unused drugs. There was no significant association between the community pharmacists’ age group and years of practice as community pharmacists with either the awareness of unused medication disposal on environmental hazards, or the beliefs about the appropriate location for collecting unused drugs (p > 0.05). The awareness and proactive accountable responsibility, along with community pharmacists’ belief of appointing pharmacies to collect unused drugs, strongly support the institution of drug take-back programs.

scholarly journals Community Pharmacists’ Perceptions towards the Misuse and Abuse of Pregabalin: A Cross-Sectional Study from Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1281
Author(s):  
Sultan M. Alshahrani ◽  
Khalid Orayj ◽  
Ali M. Alqahtani ◽  
Mubarak A. Algahtany
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
First Line ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
First Line Therapy ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Pregabalin is a first-line therapy for neuropathic pain and for chronic pain. It has abuse potential. This study was conducted to assess community pharmacists’ perceptions towards pregabalin abuse and misuse in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, and identify predictors and associated factors. A cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire following a self-administrative study was conducted across community pharmacies in the Aseer region (Abha, Khamis Mushait, Mahayel, Sarat Abeeda, Ahad-Rufaida, and Bishah). A total of 206 respondents from community pharmacists participated in the study. Over the last six months, 136 respondents (66.0%) suspected pregabalin abuse in community pharmacies; male dominance in pregabalin abusers was also recorded (n = 165, 80.1%). Additionally, 40 (19.4%) respondents stated that a prescription was not issued for pregabalin demands. Over half (61.7%) of community pharmacists recorded an increased change in pregabalin abuse compared to the previous year. This is the first study to explore pharmacists’ perceptions in the community of the Aseer region towards customers’ misuse and abuse of pregabalin. Further monitoring and regulations on the prescribing and procurement of pregabalin are needed to avoid abuse.

Assessing community pharmacists’ involvement and clients’ opinion on HIV/AIDS services in community pharmacies in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 538-550
Author(s):  
Yejide O Oseni ◽  
Wilson O Erhun
Keyword(s):  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
World Health ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medication Therapy ◽  
Southwest Nigeria ◽  
Hiv Aids

The World Health Organization is promoting community-based services to end HIV/AIDS by 2030. In Nigeria, studies on community pharmacists’ involvement in HIV testing services (HTS) and antiretroviral (ARV) medication therapy management (MTM) are scarce, and no study had evaluated the clients’ opinion on community pharmacy HTS. We assessed the community pharmacists’ involvement in HIV/AIDS services and clients’ opinions of community pharmacy HTS. Semi-structured questionnaires on a five-point Likert scale were administered to 701 selected community pharmacists and 5840 clients in southwest Nigeria in 2019. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Response rates were 68.6% and 69.8% for community pharmacists and clients, respectively. Only 18.5% of community pharmacists offered rapid HTS and 30% refills of ARV. The total score of their involvement on the HTS was 20.94 ± 17.521 (range 8–40; midpoint 24) and on ARV/MTM was 22.98 ± 19.61 (range 9–45; midpoint 27), while 91% were willing to participate in training. Barriers to integrating services into practice were lack of clinical tools (46.8%), lack of collaboration with other healthcare professionals (39.1%), and lack of training on HIV/AIDS services (36.2%) among others. Also, 77% of the clients were willing to participate in community pharmacy HTS, and about 83% of them responded that knowing their HIV status will help them to take necessary precautionary actions. Community pharmacists’ involvement in HIV/AIDS services was low. However, they showed willingness to participate in training to improve services. Also, clients were willing to receive community pharmacies HTS to know their status.

scholarly journals Nurses’ Knowledge and Anxiety Levels toward COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 356-363
Author(s):  
Fatmah Alsharif
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
As Stress ◽  
Health Organization

Background: In the battle against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, medical care staff, especially nurses, are at a higher risk of encountering psychological health issues and distress, such as stress, tension, burdensome indications, and, most importantly, fear. They are also at higher risk of becoming infected and transmitting this virus. In Saudi Arabia, it was noticed that the healthcare workforce suffered from anxiety, and that this more evident in women than men. Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of nurses regarding COVID-19 and the level of anxiety toward the COVID-19 outbreak in the current pandemic situation. Design: A cross-sectional design was used and a validated self-administered online questionnaire with a set of questions related to COVID-19 was distributed to 87 participating nurses. Results: The results showed that more than half of the nurses (71.90%) had an adequate and good knowledge about the causes, transmission, symptoms, treatment, and death rate of COVID-19. The main sources of information for the nurses were social media (51.7%) and the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health (36.8%). Conclusions: The results allowed the conclusion that, though the nurses had satisfactory knowledge about COVID-19, more than 50% of them experienced mental health issues such as anxiety. To address this, along with providing more knowledge about COVID-19, nurses should be supported in managing their anxiety.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Antibiotic Supply Decisions by Community Pharmacists in Thailand: A Vignette Study

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Sisira Donsamak ◽  
Marjorie C. Weiss ◽  
Dai N. John
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Acute Diarrhoea ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Case Vignettes ◽  
A Chain

In Thailand, antibiotics are available lawfully from community pharmacies without a prescription. Inappropriate supply of antibiotics from Thai community pharmacies to the public for common, self-limiting diseases has been reported. The study aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of antibiotics selected by community pharmacists in Thailand in response to vignettes. A cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists across Thailand was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire including nine case vignettes with three conditions, namely upper respiratory infections (URIs), acute diarrhoea and simple wounds. A total of 208 questionnaires were completed and analysed (20.8% response rate). In response to vignettes relating to URIs, 50.8% of pharmacist recommendations were not in accordance with antibiotic guidelines. Inappropriate recommendations for diarrhoea and wound cases were 20.8% and 16.7%, respectively. A higher proportion of younger pharmacists, those with less experience, Pharm. D. graduate pharmacists, employee pharmacists and those pharmacists who worked in a chain pharmacy were more likely to recommend appropriate antibiotic treatment in response to the vignettes (p < 0.05). These findings will be useful to promote educational interventions for community pharmacists regarding common infectious disease management in order to improve appropriate antibiotic use.

scholarly journals Medication safety knowledge, attitude, and practice among hospital pharmacists in tertiary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia: a multi-center study

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Azizah AL-Mutairi ◽  
Isamme AlFayyad ◽  
Youssef Altannir ◽  
Mohamad Al-Tannir
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hospital Pharmacists ◽  
Adr Reporting ◽  
Tertiary Care Centers

Abstract Background Pharmacovigilance (PV) demarcates all actions involving the detection and prevention of adverse drug reactions (ADR) for marketed drugs. However, ADRs are considerably underreported worldwide and continue to be a major concern to health care systems. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and perception of hospital pharmacists regarding medication safety concerning PV and ADRs across multiple tertiary care centers around Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2019 and January 2020. Pharmacists working in the tertiary care centers of Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia were asked to participate in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to conduct this study, it consisted of: 63 questions out of which 19 questions were knowledge-based, 15 were attitude-based, and 29 were practice-based questions. Results A total of 350 pharmacists were distributed and 289 agreed to participate, giving a response rate of 82.6%. Most pharmacists were aware of the concept of VP and its functions (96.5%) and (87.2%), respectively. Moreover, 90% said that ADR can be preventable and non-preventable. However, the findings revealed inadequate knowledge about the overall PV field, where the majority of the pharmacists failed to correctly answer questions related to independent ADRs treatment, Augmented drug reaction, the international location of ADR, and the World Health Organization “online database” for reporting ADRs. Moreover, incomplete and/or wrong answers were recorded for questions that included single or multiple correct answers. Regarding the participants” attitude, 96.9% were interested in ADR reporting, agreeing that ADR is important to enable safe drug usage. Although a general positive attitude was recorded, pharmacists have stated that the three main barriers that hinder reporting ADRs are: unavailability of information about ADRs, lack of awareness about the need to report ADRs, and lack of time. Concerning practice, 69.2% said they received training in ADRs reporting, and 70% have reported ADRs more than once a week. Conclusion Surveyed pharmacists from Riyadh hospitals showed narrow knowledge of the PV field. However, a positive attitude and satisfactory practice was observed among pharmacists. These findings warrant the need for educational programs and an encouraging environment for ADR reporting to increase ADR reporting rates and support PV activities in Saudi Arabia.

Australian pharmacists’ willingness to conduct rapid HIV testing in community pharmacies

Sexual Health ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 292
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Santella ◽  
Timothy E. Schlub ◽  
Damien Fagan ◽  
Richard J. Hillman ◽  
Ines Krass
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Hiv Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rapid Hiv Testing ◽  
Australian Community

Community pharmacists are expanding their roles in health care, especially as they are distributed over wide geographical areas and are often open long hours. New rapid HIV testing technologies may offer further opportunities to expand their roles. A cross-sectional, online survey of Australian community pharmacists found most prepared to provide treatment to HIV patients, with the majority willing to become involved in rapid HIV testing.

scholarly journals Community pharmacists’ management of self-limiting infections: a simulation study in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 576-584
Author(s):  
Richard Mary Akpan ◽  
Emmanuel Imo Udoh ◽  
Samuel Emediong Akpan ◽  
Chioma Cynthia Ozuluoha
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Common Cold ◽  
Patient Simulation ◽  
Acute Diarrhoea ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Simulated Patient ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Inappropriate Antibiotics ◽  
Pharmacy Curriculum

Background: Inappropriate use of antibiotics, especially for treatment of self-limiting infections remains one of the major drivers of antibiotic resistance (ABR). Community pharmacists can contribute to reducing ABR by ensuring antibiotics are dispensed only when necessary. Objective: To assess community pharmacists’ management of self-limiting infections. Methods: A purposive sample of 75 pharmacies participated in the study. Each pharmacy was visited by an investigator and a trained simulated patient who mimicked symptoms of common cold and acute diarrhoea, respectively. Interactions between the simulated patient and pharmacist were recorded by the investigator in a data collection form after each visit. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out. Ethics approval was obtained from the state Ministry of Health Research Ethics Committee. Results: For common cold, 68% (51/75) of pharmacists recommended an antibiotic. Azithromycin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (43%, 24%, 20%, respectively) were the most frequently dispensed agents. For acute diarrhoea, 72% (54/75) of pharmacists dispensed one antibiotic, while 15% dispensed more than one antibiotic. The most frequently dispensed agent was metronidazole (82%), which was dispensed in addition to amoxicillin or tetracycline among pharmacists who dispensed more than one agent. In both infection scenarios, advice on dispensed antibiotics was ofered in 73% and 87% of the interactions, respectively. Conclusion: This study shows high rate of inappropriate antibiotics dispensing among community pharmacists. There is need for improved awareness of antibiotic resistance through continuing education and training of community pharmacists. Furthermore, the inclusion of antibiotic resistance and stewardship in undergraduate pharmacy curriculum is needed. Keywords: Antibiotics; pharmacists; common cold; acute diarrhoea; community pharmacy; patient simulation.

scholarly journals Team Communication on Tasks Performed in Blood Pressure Clinics in Community Pharmacies

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15
Author(s):  
Shih-Ying H. Hsu ◽  
Monica J. Hwang ◽  
Jeanine K. Mount
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Team Communication ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Intervention Community ◽  
Adherence Monitoring ◽  
Study Participants

Background: To successfully deliver pharmacy services, pharmacists and technicians need to work as a team and have effective communication. Objectives: To measure the amount of communication between community pharmacists and their technicians during monthly blood pressure (BP) clinics. Methods: Cross-sectional survey method was used to assess the amount of communication pharmacists and technicians had on each task. Study participants were pharmacist-technician pairs (teams) from 10 intervention community pharmacies in the Team Education and Adherence Monitoring (TEAM) trial. Each team provided services designed to improve BP among hypertensive African American patients. Thirteen specific tasks were identified as essential in providing monthly BP clinics, and they were being performed by either the pharmacist or technician. At the end of the trial, each pharmacist and technician were asked to report his/her perception of discussion levels that occurred for each task. The level of team communication was summarized for each task (task-specific) and for each team (team-specific). Results: For task-specific communication, 3 teams had communication regarding pharmacist tasks and 5 teams engaged in communication for technician tasks. More communication was reported for newly developed technician tasks in the BP clinic. For team-specific communication, 2 teams reported no communication on any task, and another 2 teams reported having communication on all the tasks. Overall, pharmacy teams showed different levels of communication in this study. Conclusion: The amounts of communication between pharmacists and technicians were found to vary for different tasks and teams. This suggests that the nature of tasks and the unique dynamics existing in each pharmacy team could influence pharmacist-technician communication.

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