Abstract
Introduction: Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic Hijri calendar where Muslims are ex-pected to fast every day from dawn to sunset. The eating behavior changes during Ramadan and the abstinence of food affects the oral drugs administration and other convenience dosage forms. There is a need to highlight and illustrate the role of the pharmacists in medication adjustment challenges that the patients conquer in the Holy month of Ramadan. Objectives: To estimate the awareness of pharmacists’ role in providing pharmaceutical care during Ramadan; moreover, to explore pharmacists’ perspective on the importance of medication regimen adjustment along with the proper counseling required to optimize patients’ health throughout fasting. Method: This is an observational study that was done through dissemination of a cross-sectional survey among 130 pharmacists covering Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Northern Emirates regions. The targeted population consisted of practicing community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists across UAE. Results: Among pharmacists participated in the study 115 pharmacists (88.5%) were Muslims and 79 pharmacists (60.8%) were Arabs. 126 pharmacists (97%) reported performing one or more kinds of medication regimen adjustment around Ramadan for at least one patient. Changing the frequency had the highest percentage by the pharmacist compared to other methods of regimen adjustment (39%). Moreover, the results revealed that 46.9% of the pharmacists chose not to change the medication itself. Nineteen percent of Muslim pharmacists initiated the conversation about medication regimen adjustment (P = 0.0448) compared to non-Muslims, while14% of pharmacists were Arabs who showed no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: In conclusion, pharmacists are more qualified to adjust and manage medication regimens than what they are presently performing. Utilization of such skill is required to adjust patients’ medication regimen during fasting the Holy month of Ramadan and to ensure safe transition for fasting patients into and out of Ramadan.
Highlights
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic Hijri calendar where Muslims are expected to fast every day from dawn to sunset
There is a need to highlight and illustrate the role of the pharmacists in medication adjustment challenges that the patients conquer in the Holy month of Ramadan
The eating behavior changes during Ramadan and the abstinence of food from dawn to sunset in which the oral drugs administered and other convenience dosage form are shifted from day to night
Summary
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic Hijri calendar where Muslims are expected to fast every day from dawn to sunset. The eating behavior changes during Ramadan and the abstinence of food from dawn to sunset in which the oral drugs administered and other convenience dosage form are shifted from day to night. Another study conducted in a Kuwaiti Hospital showed that the majority of patients changed their drug regimen during Ramadan; 60% and 18% patients took therapeutically scheduled change, and administered their medication either before Sohour or right after Iftar as a single intake. This abrupt adjustment in the medications has hazardous consequences in patient’s health [5]
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