Perceptions, Expectations, and Experience of Physicians About Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Care Services in Pakistan: Findings and Implications.

Khezar Hayat,Yu Fang,Faiz Ullah Khan,Muhammad Arshed,Krizzia Lambojon,Zia Ul Mustafa,Zhitong Feng,Brain Godman,Jiaxing Zhang,Pengchao Li,Fahad Saleem

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.650137

Abstract

Background: Optimal collaboration between pharmacists and other healthcare professionals such as physicians is integral in implementing pharmaceutical care. However, there are concerns regarding the role of pharmacists, especially among low- and middle-income countries. This study explored the perceptions, expectations, and experience of physicians working in various hospital settings of Punjab, Pakistan, about pharmacists and their roles. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire consisting of four sections was administered from October to December 2020. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used for data analysis using SPSS. Results: Six hundred and seventy-eight physicians participated in this study with a response rate of 77.9%. Most of the physicians reported minimal to no interaction with pharmacists (n = 521, 76.8%). However, more than three-quarters of physicians (n = 660, 97.3%) accepted pharmacists as evidence-based sources of drug information. In addition, many physicians (n = 574, 84.7%) strongly agreed that pharmacists should attend patient care rounds to respond promptly to questions related to patient medication. A limited number of physicians (n = 124, 18.3%) assumed that pharmacists were advising their patients regarding the judicial use of their drugs. Median expectation and experience score had a significant association with age, experience, and education of physicians (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The perception of physicians was positive toward certain roles of pharmacists, coupled with high expectations. However, their experience was low, with most of the activities of pharmacists due to inadequate interprofessional coordination.

Highlights

Interprofessional education and collaboration are an essential pillar of healthcare services that could significantly improve patient outcomes (Hojat and Gonnella, 2011; Schot et al, 2020)
Pharmacists are a key component of healthcare services, especially in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where patients may have difficulties affording both a physician and their medicines with often catastrophic consequences on family members when patients become ill (Cameron et al, 2009; Aregbeshola and Khan, 2018; Godman et al, 2020a; Haque et al, 2020)
Pharmacists in both hospitals and the community can promote pharmacovigilance activities, which is a concern in LMICs (Terblanche et al, 2017; Haines et al, 2020), as well as have a vital role as members of Drug and Therapeutic Committees (DTCs) guiding physicians and suggesting alternative treatments when there are shortages of medicines (Matlala et al, 2017; Terblanche et al, 2018; Matlala et al, 2020; Modisakeng et al, 2020)

Summary

Introduction

Interprofessional education and collaboration are an essential pillar of healthcare services that could significantly improve patient outcomes (Hojat and Gonnella, 2011; Schot et al, 2020). Pharmacists can help in critical areas such as medication taking and adherence in ambulatory care, especially where health literacy is an issue, treat minor ailments and enhance appropriate prescribing and dispensing of antibiotics for infections such as upper respiratory tract infections (Abdulsalim et al, 2018; Rampamba et al, 2019; Godman et al, 2020a; Godman et al, 2020b; Ogunleye et al, 2020; Selvaraj et al, 2020) Pharmacists in both hospitals and the community can promote pharmacovigilance activities, which is a concern in LMICs (Terblanche et al, 2017; Haines et al, 2020), as well as have a vital role as members of Drug and Therapeutic Committees (DTCs) guiding physicians and suggesting alternative treatments when there are shortages of medicines (Matlala et al, 2017; Terblanche et al, 2018; Matlala et al, 2020; Modisakeng et al, 2020). This study explored the perceptions, expectations, and experience of physicians working in various hospital settings of Punjab, Pakistan, about pharmacists and their roles

Methods

Results

Conclusion