Pharmacy Employees Research Articles

Role of Investing in Human Resources in Enhancing the Organizational Renewal Capabilities of the Pharmaceutical Industry

This study aims to explore the role of the dimensions investing in human resources in enhancing the organizational renewal capabilities of companies operating in the pharmaceutical industry. An online survey was conducted among a sample of (350) individuals who worked in pharmaceutical companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The results indicate that the dimensions of investing in human resources as assessed by employees of pharmaceutical companies positively enhance all four studied dimensions of organizational renewal capabilities (strategic competence, learning orientation connectivity, leadership practices, exploiting time) for a wide range of pharmaceutical companies. The results confirm that enhancing the investing in human resources is a promising path toward improving the regulatory renewal capabilities of pharmaceutical companies. Despite the interest in investing in human resources, the lack of consensus on the specific elements of investing in human capital limits the understanding of their implications. Building on recent developments in visualizing and measuring investing in human resources, this study addresses this gap by exploring how the investing in human resources relates to the regulatory renewal capabilities of pharmaceutical companies. Received: 25 August 2024 / Accepted: 30 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024

Providing an annual paid leave to a pharmacy employee: how to prevent a mistake in registration

The procedure for granting vacations is regulated by the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, and so that there are no mistakes, the personnel service of the pharmacy should clearly follow it. Consider how to properly arrange the provision of annual leave to an employee.

Eco-Sustainability in Hospital Pharmacy: A Pilot Survey on 'Going Green'.

Purpose: Between 2009 and 2015, the Canadian health care system was estimated to be responsible for 4.6% of national carbon emissions. Determine awareness of and describe eco-initiatives that the department of pharmacy can implement to aim to reduce the carbon footprint in hospital pharmacy in an effort to 'go green'. Methods: In a quality improvement initiative, pharmacy employees (i.e. pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) completed a cross-sectional survey designed to gauge willingness to 'go green' at work, to identify actionable areas of waste, and to assess commuting practices. Results: A total of 15 respondents completed the survey conducted March 14th -April 7th, 2022. Most respondents (73%) were willing to engage in more sustainable practices at work. The main barriers to implementing green practices at work were 'too time consuming' (20%), 'adds too much complexity' (20%), and 'cost' (16%). For commuting, 60% indicated the primary mode of transportation as 'personal vehicle', where 'subsidized transit' and was listed as the greatest incentive that could encourage a greener commute. The three largest areas of waste cited were 'single use plastic' (36%), 'limited of awareness of green practices' (15%), and 'lights left on in empty rooms' (12%). Conclusions: Pharmacy staff shared willingness to engage in more sustainable 'go green' practices but raised challenges to do so. With the knowledge that Canada has the second most climate intensive health system, there is a need for future research to describe how hospital pharmacies can contribute strategically to 'go green', advancing with implementing low carbon sustainable pharmacy practices.

An Assessment of Surface Contamination and Dermal Exposure to 5-Fluorouracil in Healthcare Settings by UPLC-MS/MS Using a New Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Source.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a well-known cytostatic drug, which is often used in cancer treatments. Yet, it is also a very dangerous compound for people who are occupationally exposed to it for a long time, such as pharmacy employees, nurses and cleaning staff. We aimed to improve and implement a LC-MS/MS method for 5-FU quantification on surface contamination samples collected with swabs in a pharmacy department and outpatient nursing station of a university hospital. To improve the existing methods to quantify 5-FU, we compared a LC-MS/MS method using the frequently applied electrospray ionization source (ESI) with a UniSpray ionization source (USI). To determine the contamination of 5-FU in a pharmacy department preparing 5-FU infusion bags, which are then given to patients in the outpatient nursing stations, we collected multiple surface swabs of the laminar flow cabinets and frequently touched objects, before the preparation and administration of 5-FU and afterwards. Furthermore, we sampled the protective gloves and the bare hands of employees of the pharmacy department, involved in the preparation of the infusion bags. Using the USI source, we were able to reach the lowest limit of quantification (LOQ). With this technique, we were able to detect 5-FU contamination on the laminar flow cabinets and frequently used objects in the pharmacy department and the outpatient nursing station in the very low ng/cm2 range. This contamination was mostly higher after preparation or administration than before. While we also found 5-FU on the protective gloves, we almost found no 5-FU on the skin of the pharmacy technicians preparing the 5-FU infusion bags. In conclusion, our method was able to detect very low concentrations of 5-FU contamination, but the contamination we found is very unlikely to result in any issues for the personnel working in these areas.

The Influence of Burnout and Teamwork on Organizational Commitment in Pekanbaru City Branch Family Pharmacy Employees

This study aims to look at the effect of Burnout and Teamwork on Organizational Commitment in Employees of the Family Pharmacy, Pekanbaru City Branch. This type of research is using quantitative research. The population in this study were all employees of the technician section totaling 102 people. This study used employees of the technician section of the Pekanbaru City Branch of the Family Pharmacy as the object of research. The sampling method uses saturated samples, namely 102 respondents. The analysis method used in processing this research data is descriptive statistical analysis, classical assumption test, multiple linear regression analysis and the coefficient of determination using a significance level of 0.05. The data processing of this research uses the help of SPSS 23 software. The results showed that there was a negative and significant influence between burnout on organizational commitment. There is a positive and significant influence between teamwork on organizational commitment. There is a simultaneous positive and significant influence between burnout and teamwork on organizational commitment.

Pharmacies Counselling of Patients in the Era of Antifungal Resistance.

Tinea pedis is one of the most prevalent superficial fungal infections. Initial antifungal treatment is often acquired over-the-counter (OTC) without previous consultation with a physician. Lately, increasing antifungal terbinafine resistance has been documented in Denmark and globally and it is therefore of interest to assess how Danish pharmacies advise customers with tinea pedis. One hundred Danish pharmacies were randomly selected and an employee interviewed from each. A structured question guide was followed, with the possibility to add further comments. Interviews of 94 pharmacies were conducted. Six pharmacies never replied. Terbinafine as standard dose or cutaneous solution terbinafine one time application (Lamisil Once (R)) were recommended by 99% of the pharmacy employees as first-line treatment. The customer was advised to seek medical attention when tinea pedis was recurring (93%), or when treatment duration was > 2 weeks (77%). The majority (88%) of the pharmacy employees had no knowledge about antifungal resistance. Only few pharmacy employees were aware of the current problem of antifungal resistance and the majority advised costumers to initiate treatment using OTC topical terbinafine. The problem of emerging antifungal resistance requires attention in order to provide customers with tinea pedis effective treatment and prevent further societal spread of resistance to antifungals.

Pharma 4.0: A deep dive top management commitment to successful Lean 4.0 implementation in Ghanaian pharma manufacturing sector

The primary aim of this study is to assess the significance of top management commitment in the context of Lean 4.0 implementation within the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Ghana. The study seeks to understand and evaluate the overall effectiveness and achievements associated with adopting Lean 4.0. Employing a positivist mindset, the research utilizes an explanatory quantitative research design and a survey technique. Data collected from 181 employees of pharmaceutical companies in Ghana undergo analysis using SmartPLS (version 4) and IBM SPSS version 26. The study employs a combination of descriptive statistics to summarise data characteristics and inferential statistics to test various hypotheses related to Lean 4.0 adoption. The analysis reveals that the successful integration of lean methods and Industry 4.0 technologies requires meticulous management. Simultaneously, individual implementations of lean principles and Industry 4.0 technologies positively impact business performance. Surprisingly, the study does not observe a substantial positive influence of Lean 4.0 on corporate performance, suggesting that immediate improvements in efficiency or profitability may not result from the adoption of this framework. This research contributes to the field by highlighting the need for careful management in integrating lean methods and Industry 4.0 technologies. It also emphasizes the positive impacts of lean principles and Industry 4.0 technology on business performance. The unexpected finding regarding the lack of immediate improvements in corporate efficiency or profitability with Lean 4.0 adoption prompts considerations of initial implementation challenges or the organization's need for time to adapt to this integrated approach.

Barriers and facilitators to implement the redispensing of unused oral anticancer drugs in clinical care: A hybrid-effectiveness type I study

BackgroundMinimizing medication waste through the redispensing of oral anticancer drugs (OADs) that were unused by patients provides economic and environmental benefits, but this is not yet universally implemented in clinical care. Objective(S)To identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation of redispensing unused OADs in clinical care. MethodsA multicentre intervention study following a hybrid effectiveness-implementation type I design was conducted, consisting of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders involved in the redispensing program: pharmacy employees, prescribing clinicians in oncology and haematology, patients who participated in redispensing and patients who declined trial participation. Questions encompassed experiences and suggestions for future implementation. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided data collection and categorisation of identified barriers and facilitators through thematic analysis. ResultsIn total, 35 interviews were conducted, identifying 15 themes encompassing barriers and facilitators, reflecting all CFIR domains. Facilitators encompassed: 1) convenient process requiring an acceptable time-investment; 2) support from project leaders and implementation champions; 3) being well-motivated by personal values and societal impact; 4) feeling ensured of medication quality upon redispensing; 5) endorsement by healthcare providers for patient participation; 6) clear and personal patient communication; 7) good visibility of intervention successes; and 8) implementation well supported through a collaborative network. Barriers encompassed: 1) unclear target population; 2) redispensing legally prohibited; 3) absence of financial compensation for pharmacies; 4) complexity arising from two parallel work processes; 5) widespread communication on adjustments within local teams challenging; 6) patient's low receptiveness due to burden of oncology treatment; and 7) lack of familiarization among pharmacy technicians. ConclusionsFacilitators for implementation of redispensing unused drugs mainly related to people's values, motivation, and societal demand, whereas barriers mainly encompassed practical issues, including knowledge, time, financial resources, and legal conditions. Strategies emphasizing the benefits of redispensing and further streamlining process compatibility could support implementation.

Pengaruh Kepemimpinan dan Disiplin Kerja terhadap Kinerja Karyawan Apotek Libra Surabaya

In This research aims to determine the influence of leadership and work discipline on employee performance at Libra Pharmacy Surabaya. This research uses quantitative research methods. The sample used was all employees who worked at Libra Pharmacy Surabaya, totaling 32 employees. Data collection techniques used questionnaires. The research variables are the independent variable leadership performance and discipline, the dependent variable is employee performance. Mei-Juni 2024. Libra pharmacy employees. The results of this research are that leadership has a significant effect on the performance of Libra pharmacy employees. The conclusion obtained from the results of the regression equation analysis is that the regression coefficient value for leadership is -1.072 with a negative relationship direction, which means that if leadership is increased, employee performance will be lower and vice versa, if leadership is low then the level of employee performance will be higher. Apart from that, it has a calculated t value of -3.481 < t table 1.699 and has a probability value of 0.002 < 0.05, then H is accepted. Work discipline has a significant effect on the performance of Libra pharmacy employees. The conclusion obtained is that from the results of the regression equation analysis, the regression coefficient value for work discipline is -0.907 with a negative relationship direction, which means that if work discipline is increased, employee performance will be lower and vice versa, if work discipline is low then the level of employee performance will be higher. high., apart from that it has a calculated t value of -5.447 < t table 1.699 and has a probability value of 0.000 < 0.05, then H is accepted.

Traditional Beliefs and Real Influence of Full Moon Days on the Behavior of Community Pharmacy Customers in Estonia

Traditional beliefs about the influence of the moon’s phases on human well-being and health remain vague in Estonia. The study hypothesized that Estonian pharmacists have noticed a periodic increase in the number of problematic pharmacy visitors, which can be associated with full moon days (3 days before and after). The observational study was conducted in 22 community pharmacies in Estonia (11 in standard and 11 in blind group), a total of 76 pharmacists filled out an observation diary daily for 10 months. Additionally, a questionnaire was used for 400 randomly selected employees of pharmacies. During the full moon period, the number of conflicts in the community pharmacies increased by 2.7 in the standard group and 3 times in the blind group (p<0.01). Pharmacists’ opinions about the full moon’s effect on the behavior of pharmacy visitors and themselves are described. Also, the sales of medicines for nervous system disorders increase on full moon days. Sensitive customers believe in the influence of the full moon and experience changes thanks to autosuggestion. The behavior of visitors is emotionally more unstable, with an increased level of anxiety. There is a need for further research on the impact of moon phases on behavioral aspects when providing medical and pharmaceutical care.

The assessment of the state of prescription dispensing by pharmacists in the context of the electronic prescription introduction in Ukraine

Aim. To assess the current state of prescription dispensing of medicines and the effectiveness of introducing electronic prescriptions (EP) based on the results of a survey of pharmacists. Materials and methods. The study materials included regulatory legal acts, scientific publications, data from the State Register of Medicines of Ukraine, and the results of a sociological survey. The general scientific (analysis, generalization, synthesis), theoretical (structural, systemic analysis) and practical (sociological analysis) methods of analysis were used in the study. Results. It has been determined that in accordance with the provisions of the current regulatory legal acts, currently there is a list of OTC medicines in Ukraine. In 2023, it included 3191 medicines. And it is only 21.6 % of all medicines registered in Ukraine as of 18.11.2023. The results of the survey of 262 pharmaceutical employees of pharmacies in different regions have shown that among the main advantages of the introduction of the drug dispensing by EP, 77.5 % of respondents point out a significant reduction in the number of errors due to doctor’s unclear handwriting, 59.9 % note reliable control over dispensing of medicines. It has been determined that 231 pharmacists (89.2 % of respondents) believe that the functioning of EP will enable pharmacies to comply with the requirements of the legislation on prescription medicines. It has been found that more than half – 201 respondents (76.7 %) believe that the introduction of EP in the national healthcare system will prevent the irrational use of antibacterial drugs. The main difficulties that pharmacists most often encounter when dispensing medicines by EP have been identified, in particular technical failures (54 %), the patient’s misunderstanding of how EP works (40.5 %), and the lack of Internet access (30.5 %). It has been found that 94.7 % of pharmacists are familiar with the latest changes in the legislation on dispensing of medicines from pharmacies. Conclusions. Based on the analysis, the main directions of solving current problems related to dispensing of prescription medicines in Ukraine have been identified. It has been determined that the introduction of EP for all finished medicines will contribute to the protection of the patient’s health, the rational use of prescription medicines and reliable control over their dispensing.

EVALUATION OF PHARMACY EMPLOYEES’ USAGE OF HERBAL PRODUCTS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FOOD–DRUG INTERACTIONS

EVALUATION OF PHARMACY EMPLOYEES’ USAGE OF HERBAL PRODUCTS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FOOD–DRUG INTERACTIONS

Improving health and well-being through over-the-counter counselling – an observation study

Abstract Introduction The use of over-the-counter (OTC) medication in self-care gives patients empowerment in their healthcare. However, if the patients do not know enough about the medication, it may lead to misuse.[1] Pharmacies are easily accessible, low threshold first-line health providers, where these products are sold. Considering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),[2] pharmacy personnel are in an excellent position to educate the public on correct self-care, increasing good health and well-being (3rd goal). By ensuring that the customer buys the correct product and does not self-treat unnecessarily, pharmacies may contribute to responsible consumption (12th goal).[2] Aim Assessing the impact of OTC medication counselling in the 3rd and 12th SDG context: which aspects help promote good health and well-being, and how can counselling influence responsible consumption of OTC medication? Methods Observations with detailed notes of encounters on OTC medications were performed by two observers, for validity, in 7 pharmacies in and around a Nordic capital city. Pharmacies were recruited through convenient sampling, aiming to include pharmacies of different sizes and locations. The study population consisted of 253 observations. Results were analysed using thematic analysis focusing on evidence-based advice concerning the 3rd and 12th SDGs. Results The theme “customer autonomy” shows that most customers come to the pharmacy with a known product in mind. Employees rarely address the appropriateness of the customers’ chosen product, and only correct the customer if they clearly found the wrong one. Responsible consumption is not addressed. Considering good health and well-being, the theme “Presumed Knowledge” contains how employees most often ensure that the customer has previous experience, taking this as proof of the customer´s health literacy. When the employee informs about the product, they rarely give explanations for the advice, as described in the theme “Coaching opportunity”. Conclusion Pharmacy employees rarely take advantage of the opportunity to educate the public on proper OTC medication use, and thus do not contribute sufficiently to increase knowledge of good health. There is a lot of potential for pharmacies to utilise evidence-based advice in everyday practice, and ways of promoting good health knowledge in pharmacy practice need to be explored. Pharmacy employees do not contribute substantially to reducing consumption, as they most often sell the product the customer asks for without considering the necessity. Tailored OTC counselling could shape consumer behavior towards responsible OTC medication use, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes, reduced waste, and a more sustainable healthcare landscape. A strength of using the observation method is that it is possible to examine how pharmacy personnel work in everyday situations. One limitation might be that since both the customer and employee were informed that observers were present, the employee might be inclined to improve their performance. However, the observers could clearly see the instances where the employee changed their conduct, and in most instances, the extra effort did not improve the information exchange.

The adoption of ICT and robotic automation systems in the pharmaceutical industry

Background: South African pharmacies face challenges like cost reduction, inventory management, and employee efficiency. Balancing dispensing error rates and customer satisfaction, along with ensuring accurate medication dispensing, is also crucial. An effective solution to these challenges is adopting automatic robotic dispensing systems, which enhance stock inventory management, integrated systems, and accurate dispensing capabilities.Objectives: The study delved into IT and robotic automation in South African pharmaceutical dispensing, assessing current methods and advocating for integrated IT and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems in retail and hospital pharmacies.Method: The research used a quantitative approach to gather data from public and private hospital pharmacy employees, aiming to understand their requirements and expectations. It assessed the potential improvements that could result from adopting a new system.Results: The study found that most government and private pharmacies in South Africa prefer automated dispensing systems to reduce errors, lower costs, improve customer service, and enhance inventory management. Benefits also included minimising medication errors, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring patient safety.Conclusion: The study holds importance as it underscores the necessity of integrating Information Technology (IT) and Robotic Automation in the pharmaceutical sector to address prevailing issues. It identifies factors contributing to medication dispensing errors and demonstrates the potential of automated robotic systems in mitigating these errors.Contribution: South Africa’s pharmaceutical sector must enhance efficiency and competitiveness by adopting integrated IT and Robotic Automation Systems. The study identified key factors for future implementation and emphasized the need for clear pre-implementation policies outlining functions and benefits.

Preliminary Study on Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Pharmacy Workers on Generic Vs. Branded Medicine in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

Pharmacists, apprentice pharmacists and non-pharmacists belong to the same umbrella of pharmacy workers as they all work in a pharmacy. They perform a wide range of tasks within the pharmacy. In addition to ensuring that the medications patients are prescribed are appropriate, speciality pharmacists also help patients with concerns and provide advice on how to take their medications and potential side effects. Therefore, pharmacy employees must have the right knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours for a pharmacy to run well and to provide the right medication along with the right guidance. This study aimed to investigate pharmacy workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) in the Colombo district. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed among pharmacy workers in the Colombo district, including pharmacists and non-pharmacists, using a structured questionnaire. The ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee, CINEC Campus. Out of 100 participants, 15% were pharmacists, 37% were assistant pharmacists and 48% were pharmacy-supporting workers. Among the participants, 60% agreed with substituting generics for branded medicines in all cases where a generic is available. While 14% disagreed with that, 26% were neutral. However, 61% believed some medicine brands are more effective, and 6% disagreed. Among participants, 33% mentioned that sometimes they believe some brands are more effective. Further, 5% of participants always dispense other brands in addition to the brand which the doctor has prescribed. While 89 % are only dispensed to other brands when the prescribed brand is unavailable, 6% have never done so. Out of the 5 % of participants who always dispense other brands 20% are pharmacists and 80% are non-pharmacists. Also, 93% of participants usually inform the patients when they change the brand, and 7% are not informed. According to the results, some workers still needed to have adequate KAP regarding generic and brand of drugs. Hence, it is concluded that some healthcare workers at pharmacies require further improvement based on KAP.

Features of pharmaceutical consulting by specialists of pharmacy institutions for the problem of hair loss in pharmacy visitors

Introduction. The problem of hair loss affects different segments of the population, regardless of gender or age, and may be a consequence of diseases of various etiologies. Most patients with hair loss problems go directly to pharmacies, bypassing the doc­tor's office. A pharmaceutical worker becomes a key figure in the process of advising and informing patients on the appropriate choice and use of medicines, dietary supplements and cosmetic products in case of a problem. The aim of the work was to study the information and educational needs of specialists of pharmacy institutions of the Republic of Crimea, as well as their awareness of pharmaceutical counseling for pharmacy visitors suffering from hair loss (alopecia). Materials and methods. The assessment of the competence of pharmacy employees in dealing with hair loss problems through compe­tent pharmaceutical counseling and providing information to patients was carried out using a questionnaire. The frequency of the re­spondents' choices of the response options was reflected through the compilation of distribution series for each question. Results. According to pharmaceutical workers, people aged 31 to 45 years old (45%) most often resort to help in a pharmacy. The most in demand are cosmetic products for topical use (47%), as well as dietary supplements and drugs for systemic use (38%). The analysis of the assortment of pharmacies revealed the predominance in the pharmaceutical market of cosmetics for scalp care and hair restoration (39.8%), dietary supplements (31.5%), as well as over-the-counter medicines (25.9%). The main causes of hair loss were stress conditions (18.1%), diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (14.6%), hormonal imbalance (17.7%), insufficient blood supply to hair follicles (15.4%). The majority of respondents answered in the affirmative to the question about their desire to improve their knowledge on the problem of al­opecia, as they came to the conclusion that there was a lack of knowledge to fully advise pharmacy visitors in order to solve the problem of hair loss. Conclusion. The results of the analysis indicate the need for educational courses aimed at improving the skills of specialists of pharmacy institutions in competent pharmaceutical counseling of visitors with the problem of hair loss.

Community pharmacists' views and experiences of delivering in-pharmacy medication reviews for people living with severe and persistent mental illness: a qualitative study.

People living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) often take multiple medications and are at risk of experiencing medication related problems. Medication review services have the potential to reduce inappropriate use of psychotropic medications and improve adherence. However, there is limited research regarding pharmacists' perspectives when providing such services. To explore community pharmacists' views and experiences of providing an in-pharmacy medication review (MedsCheck) for people living with SPMI. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between November 2021 and May 2022 with community pharmacists participating in the comparator group of the PharMIbridge Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT), which aimed to improve medication adherence and manage physical health concerns for people living with SPMI. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with community pharmacists including pharmacy owners, managers and employee pharmacists. Most pharmacist participants who were interviewed (n = 10) were aged under 39 and more than half (n = 8) had 10 or more years of pharmacy experience. Five key themes were identified: 1) Pharmacists' roles in the management of SPMI in community pharmacy; 2) Mental health education and training; 3) Pharmacy resources; 4) Challenges with interprofessional collaboration and 5) Impact on professional relationships and consumer outcomes. Pharmacists are motivated to support people living with SPMI. Mental health training, as well as arrangements regarding pharmacy workflow and appropriate remuneration are needed to enable pharmacists to better support people living with SPMI. Referral pathways should be directly accessible by community pharmacists to assist interprofessional collaboration.

Assessment of loyalty factors of employees in pharmaceutical organizations

Assessment of loyalty factors of employees in pharmaceutical organizations

A comparison of the potential of Clinical Trials Centers within both public and commercial trial facilities

Abstract Clinical trials are an integral part of the process of developing new drugs, diagnostic methods and medical devices. Clinical trials offer patients the chance to access alternative treatment methods, thereby improving their quality of life, and even achieving recovery. Additionally, clinical trials provide the opportunity for regular contact with a specialist doctor and easier access to diagnostics, ensuring a faster therapeutic path for the patient. One of the key aspects of conducting clinical trials is choosing the right investigator and research center so as to meet specific criteria and guarantee high quality of the conducted studies. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the differences between conducting clinical trials in public and commercial centers. A diagnostic survey was used in the study and the research tool chosen was a proprietary questionnaire belonging to the research technique as survey questionnaire. Questionnaires were constructed for the appropriate stakeholders/respondents, namely: doctors and employees of pharmaceutical companies and CROs. The analysis showed that employees of pharmaceutical companies, given the choice, prefer to cooperate with commercial centers. They choose public centers only when they need a center for phase one trials or those requiring hospitalization. The research obtained shows that public centers should improve administrative processes in order to optimize tasks such as contracting or obtaining a study.

Study of factors influencing the occurrence of conflicts in pharmacies

The aim of the study was to investigate the factors influencing the occurrence of conflicts in pharmacies during the provision of pharmaceutical care, with the subsequent goal of optimizing the social and psychological climate within the team and improving the quality of service to the population. Materials and methods. Systematic-analytical, mathematical statistical, comparative, and sociological research methods were employed in the study. Descriptive statistics were utilized to present the obtained data. To assess the significance of individual factors, the questionnaire results were converted into corresponding component weights (Wij). Results. The study of conflicts between visitors and pharmacy employees, from the point of view of visitors, revealed several key findings. Most customers expressed dissatisfaction with the prices of medicines and medical devices (Wij = 1.00). Additionally, there were concerns about the perceived quality of the products (Wi j= 0.67), and some customers reported feeling distressed due to the unavailability of necessary medicines (Wij = 0.57). The study, conducted from the point of view of employees, focused on conflicts between employees and visitors. The findings revealed that conflicts most often arise due to dissatisfaction with the prices of medicines and medical devices (Wij = 1.00). Additionally, issues such as requests to dispense over-the-counter medicines from the list of prescription drugs (Wij = 0.70) and returning medicines to the pharmacy after purchase (Wij = 0.67) were identified as contributing factors. The analysis of factors that provoke conflicts in the pharmacy team revealed several key contributors. The most significant include the inadequate behavior of employees (Wij = 1.00), inconsistency in words, assessments, and actions of some team members with the expectations and requirements of others (Wij = 0.89), and psychological incompatibility between employees (Wij = 0.88). The study of conflicts between the administration and subordinates in the pharmacy revealed frequent occurrences linked to several factors. Most notably, conflicts were associated with an imperfect bonus system (Wij = 1.00), high workload (Wij = 0.92), and a perceived lack of career development opportunities (Wij = 0.76). Conclusions. The factors that contribute to the emergence of conflict situations in pharmacies have been identified and studied. Approaches to preventing and resolving conflicts by pharmacy employees are proposed.