Abstract
BackgroundPatients in Yemen commonly visit community pharmacies to obtain consultation or treatment for common ailments. Community pharmacists have an opportunity to optimize medication use and improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes and practices of community pharmacists regarding their participation in public health activities and barriers to their participation in these activities.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out among community pharmacists working in pharmacies located in urban areas of the Aden governorate of Yemen from March to June 2017 using a self-administered questionnaire. We selected pharmacies from a line list using proportional sampling according to the number of pharmacies in the urban areas of each district. The questionnaire contained four sections: demographic characteristics, attitudes, practices, and barriers encountered. Data were analyzed descriptively, and the Chi-square test was used for analyzing the association of variables (alpha = 0.05).ResultsThe questionnaire was distributed to 200 community pharmacists working in community pharmacies. Of the 200 respondents, 62% (n = 124) were male. Overall, the mean age (sd) was 30.0 years (8.6) with the number of years of work experience between 2 and 9.9 years (n = 158, 79%). On average, 62.3% of the pharmacists had a positive attitude toward participation in public health activities. Providing education to stop tobacco chewing, smoking, alcohol drinking and improve oral hygiene was an important activity of the community pharmacists. Blood pressure measurements (86%, n = 172) and glucose tests (45%, n = 90) were commonly conducted for clients. Lack of time (71%, n = 142) and lack of teamwork (70%, n = 140) were mentioned as common barriers to participation in public health activities.ConclusionsCommunity pharmacists had a positive attitude toward public health activities. Health education and routine health tests were important practices of the community pharmacists. Barriers need to be overcome to enable more active participation by community pharmacists in public health activities by consulting with all stakeholders, assessing the situation, considering alternatives and taking action.
Highlights
Patients in Yemen commonly visit community pharmacies to obtain consultation or treatment for common ailments
The distribution of pharmacists/pharmacies by location showed that 40% of the community pharmacists were from the Al-Mansoora district, followed by 25% from the AlShikh-Othman district (Table 1)
This study evaluated the attitudes and practices of community pharmacists regarding their participation in public health activities and the barriers preventing their participation in these activities in the Aden governorate of Yemen
Summary
Patients in Yemen commonly visit community pharmacies to obtain consultation or treatment for common ailments. Community pharmacists have an opportunity to optimize medication use and improve patient outcomes. Many patients view pharmacists in Yemen as drug sellers who only dispense and sell medicine [4]. Pharmacists have an obligation, as well as opportunity to improve public health [7]. In Yemen, community pharmacists are only involved in the dispensing of medicine [4]. Most community pharmacists are not yet involved in providing public health services and health promotion activities. Despite the valuable role of community pharmacists, little research has examined their extended roles and tasks, beyond just dispensing and selling medicines. In Yemen, similar to many other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), persons without pharmacy-related academic qualifications manage pharmacies and prescribe and dispense medicine
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