Selected community pharmacists' extent of knowledge, actions, and confidence in medication education to people with hearing disabilities

Abstract

Community pharmacists are accessible health care professionals to the public. With pharmacy services relying on communication, being proficient communicators enables them to provide medication education. However, it is a challenge for people with hearing disabilities to acquire medication education due to their unique language and preference in communication methods, thereby community pharmacists are needed to address the said issue. This study determined the selected community pharmacists’ extent of knowledge, actions, and confidence (KAC) in medication education to people with hearing disabilities through a descriptive quantitative-comparative research design. A convenience-purposive sampling technique was used to gather 200 Filipino community pharmacists who are currently working in the Philippines and had prior experience serving people with hearing disabilities. A survey questionnaire was used to gather data on their socio-demographic profile, seminar and/or training on disability sensitivity, and the extent of KAC in medication education to these people. Only the number of years in service (Sig.=0.029) had a significant difference in the respondents’ socio-demographic profile to the extent of confidence in communication methods. The respondents were also identified to be knowledgeable on the privileges in health services of these people. However, inappropriate communication strategies under action were still employed by the respondents, such as talking in a loud voice, speaking near the hearing ear, speaking solely to the companion, providing only written materials, and general use of Filipino Sign Language, despite their confidence in medication education to these people. Hence, improvement of their KAC through programs or training is important to ensure appropriate and more effective communication with people with hearing disabilities.