Abstract
<p><strong>Objective: </strong>A qualitative, cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted to evaluate the integration of community setup in pharmaceutical care with respect to current challenges, awareness/perception of individuals from various walks of life, related facts and opportunities which are contextual to local settings in Karachi, Pakistan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional, a qualitative study, was conducted between May–November 2015. A questionnaire was designed using 15 close ended and 5 open-ended questions. And validated using correlation of spearman coefficient and Cronbach’s α value (α = 0.916 and <em>p</em> = 0.941). Local residents, pharmacist, medical practitioners, and pharmacy technicians were selected as study participants. Informed consents of all respondents were obtained prior to the participation.<strong> </strong>SPSS 20.0 was utilized and results were calculated with respect to percentages of responses and mean scores. Chi-square test was used to analyze the problems associated in effective implementation and integration of community pharmacy practices in Pakistan. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Rate of response in the various cohort were in the order of 76%, 94%, 71% and 83% for local residents, pharmacist, physicians and pharmacy technicians respectively. Community pharmacy knowledge and beliefs mean scores were correspondingly found to be 1.971.83, 1.457.44, 2.842.10 and 2.385.54 for doctors, pharmacist, residents and technicians respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A significant difference in the level of perception was observed amongst the professionals and local resident’s cohort, which necessitates the effective and better execution of community residents counseling and more stringent implementation of health care facilities at the community level to improve the medication and health outcomes of related inhabitants.</p>
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