scholarly journals Positioning and Utilization of Information and Communication Technology in Community Pharmacies of Selangor, Malaysia: Cross-Sectional Study

10.2196/17982 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e17982
Author(s):  
Bhuvan KC ◽  
Dorothy Lim ◽  
Chia Chia Low ◽  
Connie Chew ◽  
Ali Qais Blebil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Electronic Payment ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Products ◽  
Information And Communication

Background Information and communication technology (ICT) is an essential element of modern “smart” cities. These smart cities have integrated housing, marketplace, public amenities, services, business, and transportation via ICT. ICT is also now widely used in urban health care delivery. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the positioning and roles of ICT in community pharmacies in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to January 2019 across 9 different subdistricts in the state of Selangor, including Subang Jaya, Cheras, Puchong, Port Klang, Kota Kemuning, Selayang, Chow Kit, Ampang, and Seri Kembangan. A total of 90 community pharmacists were approached from the 9 subdistricts and invited to participate in the study. Results Of the 90 community pharmacies approached, 60 agreed to participate in the study, representing a response rate of 67%. The majority (36/60, 60%) of the respondents were women, and more than half (32/60, 53%) of the community pharmacies were run by young adults (ie, 30 years old and younger). More than three-quarters of the community pharmacies (46/60, 77%) used electronic health records. Half of the community pharmacies used online social media platforms for advertising and promoting their pharmacies. The vast majority of the community pharmacies (55/60, 92%) were using modern electronic payment systems, and some were also using other new electronic payment methods. Moreover, most of the community pharmacies (41/60, 68%) were using software and programs for accounting and logistics purposes. In addition, 47/60 (78%) of the community pharmacies used a barcode reading system for medicines/health products, and 16/60 (27%) of the pharmacies had online stores, and consumers could buy medicines and health products from these pharmacies via their online portal. In addition, 20/60 (33%) of the community pharmacies used at least one of the common online business platforms available in Southeast Asia to sell products/medicines. The telephone was the most commonly used means of communication with patients, although some pharmacies also used email, WhatsApp, SMS text messaging, and other communication platforms. Conclusions This study showed that the majority of community pharmacies in Selangor, Malaysia are using ICT for different purposes. However, there is still limited use of mobile apps to provide health services. Overall, community pharmacies have been adopting ICT apps for pharmacy services but the rate of adoption is relatively slower than that in other sectors of Malaysia.

scholarly journals Positioning and Utilization of Information and Communication Technology in Community Pharmacies of Selangor, Malaysia: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhuvan KC ◽  
Dorothy Lim ◽  
Chia Chia Low ◽  
Connie Chew ◽  
Ali Qais Blebil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Electronic Payment ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Products ◽  
Information And Communication

BACKGROUND Information and communication technology (ICT) is an essential element of modern “smart” cities. These smart cities have integrated housing, marketplace, public amenities, services, business, and transportation via ICT. ICT is also now widely used in urban health care delivery. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the positioning and roles of ICT in community pharmacies in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to January 2019 across 9 different subdistricts in the state of Selangor, including Subang Jaya, Cheras, Puchong, Port Klang, Kota Kemuning, Selayang, Chow Kit, Ampang, and Seri Kembangan. A total of 90 community pharmacists were approached from the 9 subdistricts and invited to participate in the study. RESULTS Of the 90 community pharmacies approached, 60 agreed to participate in the study, representing a response rate of 67%. The majority (36/60, 60%) of the respondents were women, and more than half (32/60, 53%) of the community pharmacies were run by young adults (ie, 30 years old and younger). More than three-quarters of the community pharmacies (46/60, 77%) used electronic health records. Half of the community pharmacies used online social media platforms for advertising and promoting their pharmacies. The vast majority of the community pharmacies (55/60, 92%) were using modern electronic payment systems, and some were also using other new electronic payment methods. Moreover, most of the community pharmacies (41/60, 68%) were using software and programs for accounting and logistics purposes. In addition, 47/60 (78%) of the community pharmacies used a barcode reading system for medicines/health products, and 16/60 (27%) of the pharmacies had online stores, and consumers could buy medicines and health products from these pharmacies via their online portal. In addition, 20/60 (33%) of the community pharmacies used at least one of the common online business platforms available in Southeast Asia to sell products/medicines. The telephone was the most commonly used means of communication with patients, although some pharmacies also used email, WhatsApp, SMS text messaging, and other communication platforms. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that the majority of community pharmacies in Selangor, Malaysia are using ICT for different purposes. However, there is still limited use of mobile apps to provide health services. Overall, community pharmacies have been adopting ICT apps for pharmacy services but the rate of adoption is relatively slower than that in other sectors of Malaysia.

scholarly journals SURVEI IMPLEMANTASI INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) DALAM PEMBELAJARAN BAHASA INGGRIS DI SMA SE-KABUPATEN GORONTALO

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
Indah Wardaty Saud ◽  
Dahlia Husain ◽  
Adimawati Helingo
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Probability Sampling ◽  
Information And Communication

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh implementasi Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sebagai media dan sumber belajar dalam pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris terhadap hasil belajar bahasa Inggris siswa SMA. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di sepuluh SMA Kabupaten Gorontalo, terdiri dari tujuh SMA negeri dan tiga SMA swasta. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode survei dengan pendekatan Cross Sectional Study. Sample 250 responden siswa SMA kelas XI diambil dari sepuluh SMA Negeri dan Swasta sebagai representasi dari populasi siswa SMA kelas XI yang ada di SMA Kabupaten Gorontalo. Sample ini diperoleh dari teknik probability sampling. Data diperoleh dengan metode kuesioner yang didistribusikan kepada 250 responden mengenai persepsi Imlementasi ICT sebagai media dan sumber belajar, dan metode dokumentasi terhadap hasil belajar siswa pada mata pelajaran Bahasa Inggris yang diperoleh dari nilai Ujian Tengah Semester, semester genap tahun ajar 2017/2018. Data kemudian dianalisis menggunakan metode Regresi Linear Sederhana untuk mengetahui pengaruh Implementasi ICT terhadap hasil belajar siswa. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa analisis yang dilakukan dengan korelasi Product Moment (rxy) antara implementasi ICT (X) dengan hasil belajar siswa kelas XI (Y) diperoleh koefisien korelasi sebesar 0.604 nilai yang kuat. Hasil ini menunjukkan hubungan atau pengaruh positif dan signifikan antara Implementasi ICT sebagai media dan sumber belajar dalam pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris dengan hasil belajar Bahasa Inggris siswa kelas XI. Nilai R Square atau nilai koefisiensi determinasi sebesar 0,365 yang berarti bahwa variabel dependen (Hasil Belajar) mampu dijelaskan oleh variabel independen (Implementasi ICT), sebesar 36,5%, sebaliknya sebesar 63,5%  dapat dijelaskan oleh faktor-faktor lain yang tidak diikutsertakan dalam penelitian ini. <br /><br />Kata Kunci: ICT, Media dan Sumber Belajar, Hasil Belajar Bahasa Inggris.

scholarly journals The potential role of local pharmacies to assess asthma control: an Italian cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Caminati ◽  
L. Cegolon ◽  
M. Bacchini ◽  
N. Segala ◽  
A. Dama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Asthma Control ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Asthma Severity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Disease Assessment ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Disease Community

Abstract Background Asthma control and monitoring still represents a challenge worldwide. Although the international guidelines suggest the interplay between secondary and primary care services as an effective strategy to control the disease, community pharmacies’ are seldom involved in asthma control assessment. The present cross-sectional study aimed at providing a picture of the relationship between asthma severity and control in community pharmacies within the health district of the city of Verona (Veneto Region, North-Eastern Italy). Methods A call for participation was launched through the Pharmacists’ Association of Verona. Patients referring to the participating pharmacies with an anti-asthmatic drug medical prescription and an asthma exemption code were asked to complete the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and a brief questionnaire collecting information on their age, sex, smoking status, aerobic physical exercise and usual asthma therapy, which also defined asthma severity. A multinomial logistic regression model was fitted to investigate the risk of uncontrolled as well as poorly controlled vs. controlled asthma (base). Results were expressed as relative risk ratios (RRR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Results Fifty-seven community pharmacies accepted to participate and 584 asthmatic patients (54% females; mean-age: 51 ± 19 years) were consecutively recruited from 1st January to 30th June 2018 (6 months). Based upon ACT score 50.5% patients had a controlled asthma, 22.3% a poorly controlled and 27.2% uncontrolled. A variable proportion of patients with uncontrolled asthma were observed for every level of severity, although more frequently with mild persistent form of asthma. Most patients (92%) self-reported regular compliance with therapy. At multinomial regression analysis, patients under regular asthma treatment course (RRR = 0.33; 95%CI: 0.15; 0.77) were less likely to have an ACT< 16 compared to those not taking medications regularly. Conclusions Overall, our findings highlighted an unsatisfactory asthma control in the general population, independently of the severity level of the disease. Community pharmacies could be a useful frontline interface between patients and the health care services, supporting an effective asthma management plan, from disease assessment and monitoring treatment compliance to referral of patients to specialist medical consultancies.

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.

Women’s attitude toward gynecological pain in fertile age: Results from a cross-sectional study among Italian community pharmacies

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-94
Author(s):  
Corrado Giua Marassi ◽  
Assunta Pistone ◽  
Fabio Parazzini ◽  
Silvia Vannuccini ◽  
Felice Petraglia
Keyword(s):  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Pelvic Pain ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mean Delay ◽  
Italian Community

Introduction: Several epidemiological data on women afferent to clinics for medical treatment of pelvic pain are available, while few studies explored the general population. Thus, this study aimed to investigate women presenting with gynecological pain at the community pharmacy and to evaluate the relevance of pharmacist advice regarding medical treatment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 10 Italian community pharmacies, by administering a structured questionnaire to fertile age women reporting pelvic pain during the last 3 months. Questions were concerning demographic information, pain characteristics, women’s behavior toward gynecological pain, and diagnosis possibly received from a physician. Results: A group of 290 women were interviewed. Severe pain was reported in 58.3%, with a mean ± SD of 4.4 ± 6.8 days of suffering, causing absenteeism from work in 45.3% of cases. Almost half of women reported that the onset of gynecological pain was before 15 years and 72.2% had consulted a physician in the past, with a mean delay of 2.5 ± 4.3 years between the onset of pain and medical consultation. However, only 28% of the overall population received a diagnosis. 51.0% received one treatment, while 39% received two or more. The first therapy was prescribed in 40.2% cases by the physician, while in the remaining it was recommended either by the pharmacist or it was a self-medication. Conclusion: Gynecological pelvic pain is a disabling problem, regardless of the underlying cause, with significant impact on social and working life and requiring a better medical management.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document