Role Of Community Pharmacists Research Articles

Role of community pharmacy and pharmacists in self care in Sweden

BackgroundSelf care is an important concept, which is increasingly being applied by policy makers on a large scale. It is associated with improved health literacy and technological advances. Community pharmacy practitioners are easily accessible for self care counselling, purchase of non-prescription products and for referrals to other healthcare providers. ObjectiveTo describe self care policies and strategies in Swedish healthcare authorities, pharmaceutical organizations and community pharmacy. MethodsA search was conducted to retrieve self care policy documents and strategies in Swedish healthcare authorities, pharmaceutical organizations and community pharmacy on respective websites, as well as personal contacts with key persons in pharmaceutical organizations and community pharmacy practice. ResultsA new law on self care was adopted by the Swedish Parliament becoming effective in 2023. The law defines self care as a healthcare measure that has been assessed by a treating licenced healthcare practitioner to be possible to be performed by the patient him/herself. The law includes a wide range of measures. According to a Government Commission that followed Sweden's the National Pharmaceutical Strategy's Action Plan in 2018, the Medical Products Agency (MPA) was assigned to establish requirements of qualifications in self care counselling. In its report in late 2022, the MPA stated that self care counselling by community pharmacy practitioners plays an important role in society. The new requirements are expected to become effective in mid-2023. None of the four community pharmacy chains operating 97% of Sweden's community pharmacies have developed any specific self care policies, although self care counselling and sales of non-prescription products, as well as provision of some primary healthcare services, constitute important components of their operations. Furthermore, all Swedish pharmacies offer several digital self care solutions, supporting people to manage their own health. Neither the Swedish Pharmacy Association, representing most pharmacies, nor the Swedish Pharmacists Association, the trade union, have developed any self care policies. However, the Swedish Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry is promulgating Swedish self care reform using a systematic review of self care and which medicines should be over-the-counter. ConclusionsSelf care is not currently established as a core pillar of a Swedish national health strategy. There are further opportunities to enable pharmacists to fulfil their potential in supporting individual wellbeing and promoting self care interventions. A new system needs to be created which fully integrates the promotion of everyday wellbeing, self care for self-treatable conditions and the management of long-term conditions.

Role and challenges of community pharmacists in managing mental health care in Indonesia: A mix-method study.

This research aims to explore roles and challenges faced by Indonesian community pharmacists in mental healthcare management. A sequential mixed method study was conducted. This study found that drug counselling as a pharmaceutical care service that is often given to patients with mental disorder. Nonetheless, inadequate training and concern of psychotropic drug abused were identified as a major barrier hindering effective service delivery. These finding suggests that there is a need for pharmacists to gain additional education and training in mental health, as well as implement a system that integrates patient medical records across all healthcare settings.

Do Future Physicians Know a Clinical Hospital Pharmacist's Capabilities?

Physicians appear to positively perceive pharmacists, but the perception of future physicians on clinical hospital pharmacists is largely unknown. By identifying medical students' perceptions, educational efforts could be developed to target areas for improvement and allow for optimal utilization of pharmacists. To identify medical students' perception of clinical pharmacists in the hospital setting. A 27-item survey that analyzed medical students' knowledge and attitudes toward clinical hospital pharmacists was sent via email to students at eight medical schools in Ohio. Survey items assessed participant's past interactions with a pharmacist (5 items), understanding of clinical pharmacists' roles and responsibilities (7 items), and current perceptions of clinical pharmacists (7 items). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data using thematic analysis. There were 124 participants across 3 medical schools. Students expressed that clinical pharmacists are essential on the healthcare team to support and maintain a patient's health (Mean ± SD = 4.47 ± 0.829). They were neutral or disagreed that clinical pharmacists are qualified to diagnose a variety of conditions (Mean ± SD = 2.62 ± 1.017) and were neutral or agreed that a clinical pharmacist's role differs from a community pharmacist's role (Mean ± SD = 3.95 ± 0.659). In the qualitative analysis, medical students reported that they perceive clinical pharmacists to be medication experts (N=28, 66.7%), important members of the healthcare team (N=23, 54.8%), and useful resources for answering drug-related questions (N=15, 35.7%). Medical students reflected a positive attitude toward clinical pharmacists and affirmed the need for pharmacists to provide medication expertise in the hospital setting. However, many medical students were not fully aware of the responsibilities that a clinical pharmacist provides and could benefit from education on the scope of a pharmacist's practice.

General practitioners’ perceptions of the roles of community pharmacists and their willingness to collaborate with pharmacists in primary care

BackgroundCommunity pharmacists (CPs) have the capacity to contribute to patient care given their expertise in medication and accessibility to residents in the community. However, multidisciplinary patient care programmes where CPs collaborate with general practitioners (GPs) in patient care is rare in Singapore despite increasing healthcare demand.ObjectivesThis study explores GPs’ perceptions of CPs’ current roles and GPs’ ideas for and attitudes towards interprofessional collaboration.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 private GPs from August to December 2020 via an online video-chat platform. GPs were recruited from the Primacy Care Research Network (pcRn), primary care networks, and using snowballing strategies. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded thematically.ResultsCurrent working relationships between GPs and CPs appeared amicable but limited. GPs appreciate the existing roles of CPs: dispensing drugs not stocked in their practices and clarifying prescription details. Still, GPs appeared to rarely consider collaborative working. GPs acknowledged that CPs could enhance patient care with initiatives including medication reconciliation and advising on using medical devices. It was suggested that CPs could coordinate the purchase of drugs for primary care networks to improve GPs’ inventory management, but less enthusiasm was expressed for clinical collaborations with CPs. Major concerns about GP–CP clinical collaborations included direct competition with GPs’ own business interests, perceived low acceptability of pharmacy-led services by patients (citing extra time and cost), threat to continuity of care and the absence of a shared patient electronic health record system. Current funding mechanisms do not enable reimbursement of clinical services provided by CPs. Adoption of telemedicine technologies and governmental financial support were identified as possible enablers of GP–CP collaboration.ConclusionsGPs saw potential in CPs’ increased involvement in patient care, but perceived multiple barriers. Strategies focusing on overcoming these barriers could enable GP–CP collaboration to enhance patient care.

Information médicale du patient porteur d’implants : constats et perspectives

The main objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and information received by patients regarding their implants and to discuss the role of community pharmacists. A prospective survey was conducted in 3 pharmacies among patients presenting for various reasons. Firstly, on the same day, all patients visiting the pharmacy were asked if they had an implant. Secondly, patients with implants were offered a short survey consisting of 16 questions concerning the implant and the information received. The survey was conducted with 178 patients, among whom 11.4% had implants. The majority of them reported having osteoarticular, dental, or ophthalmic implants. Women were 67.1% of the cohort. None of the 178 patients with implants in the survey had complete information about their implant and its follow-up, which would enable optimal care and effective reporting in case of potential complications. The majority of patients visiting the pharmacy had received limited or inadequate information about their implants. Community pharmacists, as local healthcare providers, in collaboration with hospitals, could play a crucial role in patient education. During the initial dispensing of postoperative treatments, pharmacists could inform and advise patients to enhance their patient journey.

Role of community pharmacists in cardiovascular diseases-related health promotion and dyslipidemia management in Malaysia: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, imposing a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems. The role of pharmacists in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) is pivotal as they play an essential part in the healthcare team, particularly in medication management and patient education. Pharmacists are well-positioned to contribute to the prevention and control of CVD through various roles, including medication management and patient education. This study aims to investigate the current involvement of community pharmacists in Malaysia, specifically in cardiovascular diseases-related health promotion activities and dyslipidemia management, including their perceived barriers. This cross-sectional survey was conducted among community pharmacists in all 14 states of Malaysia between November 2021 and July 2022. The self-administered survey was shared to relevant groups through various social media platforms. A total of 312 community pharmacists were involved in the survey. Majority of the respondents were females (66%), with a mean age (SD) of 32.9 (8.4) years. Most of the respondents showed satisfactory practice for patient counselling, but improvements are needed particularly in risk assessment and collaborative care aspect. Most of them expressed their interest for dyslipidemia management training (89.4%). Lack of access to medical records (71.2%) and lack of CVD-related educational materials (70.8%) were the two main perceived barriers identified. Community pharmacists in Malaysia provide a satisfactory role in the provision of cardiovascular disease-related health promotion activities, especially in providing patient counselling. Strengthening collaborative care is essential for providing comprehensive and patient-centered intervention in dyslipidemia management. This requires ongoing efforts to address and overcome existing barriers for effective teamwork and coordination among healthcare professionals.

Role of Portuguese community pharmacy and pharmacists in self-care

Portugal recognizes the importance of self-care in its policies and has been actively engaging in health literacy and citizen empowerment. The current National Health Plan for the period 2021–2030 clearly mentions the need to “take greater advantage of the network of community pharmacies throughout the national territory, in favour of the health of the community, from the protection and promotion of health, through health literacy, to the prevention and early detection of disease, and the aggravation of chronic disease, among others”. There is recognition of the role of pharmacists and community pharmacies. However, more needs to be done to promote intersectoral collaboration, particularly as community pharmacies are private entities but can nonetheless support the public national health service. Community pharmacies assisted many individuals during the pandemic to test suspect cases free of charge. The fight to end AIDS and viral hepatitis is another example where community pharmacies promote self-testing and ensure efficient screening and referral to diagnosis and treatment. Portugal has already moved to reimburse community pharmacies for services with some of them in areas of self-care including COVID-19 testing. Nevertheless, future challenges include making community pharmacies sustainable. Taking into account that community pharmacies are private entities that can supplement the public health service just as any other provider, it is essential to review payment models, referral mechanisms and access and integration of information from other partners in primary and secondary care.

A systematic review of the role of community pharmacists in the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases: the perceptions of patients

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality globally. The modifiable risk factors can be measured and identified early at primary healthcare facilities. Community pharmacists present an opportunity for improved management of cardiovascular diseases and health outcomes. The systematic review aims to identify the roles of community pharmacists in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases and patients’ perceptions towards such functions.MethodsA systematic review of the literature was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The team searched MEDLINE, CINAHL via EBSCOhost, and Web of Science from January 2001 to December 2021 with a focus on studies reporting the role of community pharmacists in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases, and patients’ perceptions of such roles. Search terms included were ‘‘interventions,’’ ‘‘community pharmacists,’’ ‘‘patients,’’ ‘‘cardiovascular diseases,’’ ‘‘risk factors,’’ and “perceptions”. The quality of studies was appraised using the Joanne Briggs Institute checklist.ResultsA total of 45 studies met the inclusion criteria: 35 (78%) and 10 (22%) reported community pharmacists’ preventive and control roles, respectively. Generally, drug therapy monitoring, medicine and lifestyle counselling, and health education were most common roles, with pharmacist-initiated prescribing and social support least common. A total of 11 (24%) studies reported patients’ perceptions of community pharmacists’ contribution in preventing (73%, n = 8) and controlling (27%, n = 3) cardiovascular diseases. Patients were satisfied with community pharmacists’ services in 10 of 11 studies.ConclusionsThe findings highlight community pharmacists’ capability of providing primary healthcare services in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases and provide evidence for their inclusion in primary healthcare frameworks. Future research should assess the effectiveness of these roles and provide a comprehensive evaluation of clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes.Systematic review registrationOpen Science Framework (OSF) registration https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/WGFXT.

The crucial role of community pharmacists in balancing the impact of statins on kidney function in patients with diabetes mellitus: Recommendations for awareness, recognition, and management of diabetic nephropathy

The crucial role of community pharmacists in balancing the impact of statins on kidney function in patients with diabetes mellitus: Recommendations for awareness, recognition, and management of diabetic nephropathy

Exploring the implementation of Discharge Medicines Review referrals by hospital pharmacy professionals: A qualitative study using the consolidated framework for implementation research

BackgroundThe Discharge Medicines Review (DMR) is a community pharmacy service in Wales that aims to reduce medicines-related harm after care transitions, including hospital discharge. To undertake a DMR, the Community Pharmacist must receive a patient's discharge medicines information, either electronically, by fax or presented by the patient. Although the DMR has evidenced benefits for improving patient safety, its evaluation showed inconsistent uptake, which Community Pharmacists partially attributed to hospitals not providing the necessary information. ObjectiveAiming to develop recommendations to improve hospital engagement to DMR referrals, this study explores hospital pharmacy professionals' views of the service. MethodsQualitative focus groups, using hermeneutic phenomenology, were conducted in 16 hospitals across Wales, using a quota sampling method to include 61 Pharmacists and 31 Pharmacy Technicians. To understand the suboptimal engagement to DMR referrals, framework analysis was undertaken using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). ResultsThe data were mapped onto all five CFIR domains, each containing barriers and facilitators to engagement with DMR referrals and suggestions for improvement. Only one hospital had successfully implemented DMR referrals, with many participants lacking any knowledge of the service or how to refer to it. Specific barriers included a clear absence of processes to implement referrals and engage hospital pharmacy professionals. A considerable barrier was many participants' perceptions that Community Pharmacist roles were less clinically orientated and patient-centred than their own, viewing them almost as a different profession.Participants believed that local champions for DMR referrals could promote engagement and integrate them into the workflow of hospital pharmacy professionals. Further recommendations to improve engagement was staff training for DMRs and regular feedback of its value. ConclusionPolicymakers may use the findings and recommendations from this study to promote hospital pharmacy staff engagement to similar community pharmacy services like the Discharge Medicines Service in England.

Community pharmacists' perceptions about their performance and professional involvement in the dispensing and free delivery of antigen tests for COVID-19 self-diagnosis to the Madrid Autonomous Region population

In 2021, the Community of Madrid intensified their fight against the pandemic by incorporating the community pharmacy network to its public health program for the early detection, surveillance, and control of Covid-19. Specifically, pharmacies participated in the performance of rapid antigen testing for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and provided the population with free self-testing kits. From the Official College of Pharmacy of Madrid ("Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Madrid"), a study was conducted to evaluate the professional involvement and role of community pharmacists, as well as the degree of information demanded by the public during the distribution of self-testing kits. This was an observational, cross-sectional, prospective study that employed online surveys collected between May 4th and 17th 2022. 76.8 % of pharmacists offered technical information to approximately 58 % of users that came to retrieve their self-testing kits. 26 % of users returned for additional advice, and 1/3 of users asked for the test to be conducted in the pharmacy. The most frequent intervention (61 %) was providing information on test usage and interpretation. In most cases (56.7 %), pharmacists spent between 1-5 minutes in the distribution of self-testing kits, with a lower percentage (20.3 %) spending between 5-10 minutes. Notably, 98.3 % of pharmacists identified that this public health campaign altered their daily workflow, with 86 % considering that there should have been financial compensation for their involvement.. This study highlighted the crucial role that pharmacists played in the public health campaign against Covid-19. Moreover, it reflected the pharmacists' opinions on their involvement in this novel role, separate from their traditional workflow, that ultimately contributed to improving population health.

Evaluation of Outreach of Community Pharmacists in Public Health Services in Al-Jouf Region of Saudi Arabia: Findings and Implications.

Diversifying the conventional role of community pharmacists from dispensing to involvement in public health services could help in optimized patient care and ultimately good health practices. The current study aimed to ascertain the involvement of community pharmacists, barriers to involvement, their preparedness towards the provision of public health services in the future, and effective strategies to improve their existing role, especially in remote areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Al-Jouf region of Saudi Arabia (KSA), between January to April 2023. A convenient sampling technique was used to recruit community pharmacists (CPs). A self-designed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The relative importance index (RII) was utilized to rank the barriers to participation in public health services. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS. This study recruited 119 participants (mean age: 32.2 ± 7.9; male gender: 67.2%). Of these, 91.6% were involved in the provision of public health services at community pharmacies. Majority of CPs (n = 114/119, 95.8%) provided drug use-related written information to the patients, and the least practiced service was screening of dyslipidemia (n = 81; 68.1%). According to RII, the major barrier was the lack of time given by patients (RII: 0.812). Overall, the majority of the pharmacists (n = 94/119; 79%) were willing to provide public health services. Most of the CPs reported that empowerment through education and awareness (n = 100/119; 84%) is most effective strategy to enhance the involvement of pharmacists in public health services. Findings of the present study underscored the adequate participation of community pharmacists in public health activities. Further studies are required in other remote regions of KSA to get a clear insight into the overall participation of community pharmacists in public health services and generalize the findings.

Using Simulated Patients to Understand Non-Prescription Antibiotic Dispensing in Indonesia: A Systematic Review

Background: Dispensing antibiotics without a prescription at community pharmacies is a significant contributor to the ongoing global public health issue of antibiotic resistance. Objectives: To estimate the proportion of antibiotics that are dispensed without a prescription in community pharmacies in various Indonesian cities. Methods: A literature review was conducted via PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Garuda, and Neliti for articles published between January 2007 and December 2022 combined with Boolean operators. The literature search keywords were (simulated patientsOR mystery shopper OR sample patients OR dummy patients) AND ("antibiotics without prescription OR non-prescription antibiotics OR self-medication of antibiotics). The keywords are also used in Indonesian language (Bahasa), including “simulasi pasien” OR “sampel pasien” AND “antibiotik tanpa resep” OR “swamedikasi antibiotik”. Results: Seven studies from various cities have complied with the inclusion criteria and were considered when reviewing 199 articles. The findings of our studies were consistent with the extensive use of non-prescription antibiotics throughout the review. A simulation patient study design was used in all seven studies in this review. Amoxicillin recorded the highest percentage of dispensing without a prescription, while other drugs often purchased include chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and cefadroxil. Among the studies reviewed, one study utilized the pre-test and post-test methods, while the others did not. Conclusion: The lack of prescriptions for antibiotics dispensing has often occurred in community pharmacies throughout Indonesia. The community pharmacist's role is needed as the final gate of pharmaceutical services in providing rational treatment and controlling the dispense of antibiotics without a prescription.

Practices and Perceptions of Community Pharmacists in the Management of Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis.

Understanding the contributions of community pharmacists as first-line health providers is important to the management of atopic dermatitis, though little is known about their contribution. A systematic review was carried out to examine practices and perceptions of the role of community pharmacists. A literature search was conducted in five different databases. Full-text primary research studies, which involved practices and perceptions of the role of community pharmacists in the management of atopic dermatitis, previously published in peer reviewed journals were used. Critical appraisal of included studies was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data were extracted and thematically synthesized to generate descriptive and analytical themes. The confidence of the findings of the included studies was assessed via either GRADE or CERQual. Twenty-three studies were included. Findings showed that community pharmacists lacked knowledge of the uses of topical corticosteroids. The recommendations of other treatments were limited. Pharmacists generally undertook dermatology training after graduation. Analytical themes indicated that the practices of community pharmacists were poor and misled patients. Inappropriate education in initial training was identified as a potential reason for their poor practices. This systematic review reveals a gap between patients' needs in practice and dermatological education provided to community pharmacists. Novel approaches regarding education and training should be explored to improve pharmacists' dermatological knowledge and skills.

The South African community pharmacy sector-an untapped reservoir for delivering HIV services.

Differentiated service delivery is recommended to improve the uptake of HIV testing and treatment for people living with HIV. One service delivery option yet to be fully capitalised on is community pharmacies. There are approximately 3,580 registered community pharmacies in South Africa. A total of 1,110 (31%) of these pharmacies are corporate chain pharmacies located in cities and towns, the remainder are individually owned, many of which are in less populated poorer settings. Community pharmacies traditionally play a pivotal role in providing health education to the populations they serve and are the first point of contact for people seeking health services, offering more convenient opening hours and shorter waiting times than public sector clinics or private doctors. As a result, patients regularly seek a variety of sexual and reproductive health services at community pharmacies such as self-testing devices for HIV, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and an array of reproductive health services, spanning emergency contraception to fertility advice, often signifying HIV risk. This has presented an opportunity for community pharmacies to provide access to HIV prevention and treatment to ensure the targets for HIV services set by international agencies and local government are achieved. Despite obstacles experienced with the expansion of the community pharmacist's role, exploring the potential of pharmacies to mediate the existing challenges with HIV service delivery has emerged as an important resource. Assessing the South African communities' specific HIV treatment needs and willingness to access HIV services from community pharmacies will benefit from additional research.

Pharmacy Students’ Perspective on Business Management for the Community Pharmacist

ObjectivePharmacy students are important future stakeholders in community pharmacy, with business management being an integral part of practice. Thus, this study aims to determine pharmacy students’ perceptions of the business management skills required of the community pharmacist and how these skills should be taught within the pharmacy curriculum. MethodsAn explanatory sequential mixed-methods design involved the administration of an online survey to pharmacy students in years 1 and 4 across 2 Australian universities, followed by focus groups to gather in-depth perceptions. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and associations between years 1 and 4 and outcomes were explored. A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive thematic analysis was used for focus group transcriptions. ResultsA total of 51 pharmacy students responded to the online survey, with 85% agreeing that business management is an essential part of the community pharmacist’s skill set. Students indicated a preference for learning management during their community pharmacy placement, university workshops, and via mentorship. Although thematic analysis of student focus groups revealed a preference for learning clinical skills during their university education, business management was also recognized as important. Enthusiasm for management, however, could be increased by exposure to mentors who display leadership and are passionate about business management. ConclusionPharmacy students considered business management as intrinsic to the role of community pharmacists and recommended a multimethod teaching approach to learning these skills. These findings could be used by pharmacy educators and the profession to inform both the content and the delivery of business management in pharmacy curricula.

Community Pharmacies' Promotion of Smoking Cessation Support Services in Saudi Arabia: Examining Current Practice and Barriers.

Community pharmacists' interventions have been found to be highly effective. However, to date, there has been little information about pharmacists' potential roles and perceived barriers to providing smoking cessation. This study aimed to assess the potential role of community pharmacists in supporting their patients to quit smoking by summarizing their self-reported level of current activities, confidence, and perceived barriers; Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used for a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia. As part of the questionnaire, demographic characteristics were measured, as well as confidence, perceived berries, and level of smoking cessation activities (asking, advising, assessing, assisting, and arranging, including follow-up).; Results: 370 community pharmacists practicing responded to the survey. Pharmacists indicated high activity rates about advising and assessing patients in quitting smoking, with lower rates of assisting and arranging, including following up. The rate of recording smoking status was very low. There were significant differences between gender, source of education, years practicing as a licensed pharmacist, attended an education or training program on smoking cessation, and interest in providing smoking and perceived practice of smoking cessation. Pharmacists are confident about providing smoking cessation activities. Barriers to providing smoking cessation services include unable to follow up, lack of counseling space, lack of educational materials, and lack of time.; Conclusions: Saudi Arabian community pharmacists actively offer smoking cessation services, which may reduce smoking-related health issues. It appears that pharmacists need to be empowered by team-based, systematic, comprehensive approaches to overcome barriers and enhance their confidence.

Exploring the role of community pharmacists in drug interactions: A cross-sectional study in Palestine

Exploring the role of community pharmacists in drug interactions: A cross-sectional study in Palestine

Physicians’ attitudes toward expanding the role of community pharmacists in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Abstract Objectives To explore physicians’ attitudes toward expanding the role of community pharmacists to include traditional and advanced pharmaceutical care activities. In addition, the study assessed factors influencing physicians’ attitudes. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in 2019. Participants were randomly selected and were practicing physicians in Al Ain. A questionnaire was hand-delivered and consisted of four sections: demographic information, general attitudes, attitudes towards traditional and attitudes towards advanced pharmaceutical care activities. Key findings Two hundred twenty-nine (response rate ~92.0%) practicing physicians agreed to participate in this study. The majority (95.1%, n = 218) agreed with expanding pharmacists’ activities beyond their traditional role and facilitating pharmacists’ access to patients’ medical records (85.4%, n = 196). Physicians’ overall attitudes toward traditional pharmaceutical care were positive (~80%, n = 183), particularly regarding improving patient adherence, providing drug information, patient counselling, and identifying, monitoring, and resolving drug-related problems. On the other hand, physicians were partially accepting of pharmacists’ involvement in advanced pharmaceutical care services (~46%, n = 108). The majority of them considered pharmacists competent in generic substitution (75.6%, n = 173) and in adjusting drug therapy based on agreed protocols (56.1%, n = 128). However, they considered them less competent for therapeutic substitution (41.5%, n = 95), treating certain minor illnesses (41.5%, n = 95), and refilling repeat prescriptions independently (22%, n = 50). Overall, physicians’ attitudes were positive toward 9 out of 12 expanded activities for community pharmacists. Conclusions This study has shown that UAE physicians have agreed that the pharmacist’s role should extend beyond dispensing medications. Physicians have also positive attitudes toward expanding community pharmacists’ activities to include all of the traditional pharmaceutical care activities. On the other hand, physicians had a negative attitude toward most of the advanced activities.

Revitalization of Community Pharmacists: a Review of Regulation and Implementation

Community pharmacists have implemented standard pharmaceutical practices particularly in procurement and clinical pharmacy. The purposes of this review were describing the role of community pharmacists in safety use of medicine and responses to COVID-19 outbreak urgency. Review of published literature. Practice of Community Pharmacist in Indonesia based on Ministry of Health Regulation. In medicine use, Indonesia has National Medicine Policy since 2006. National Medicine policy will ensure the availability, equality and affordability of medicine including the essential. It guarantees that available medicine will meet standard of safety, efficacy and has good quality. Also, goal of this policy is to enhance rational use of medicine and preventing misuse/ abuse. Indicator of good pharmaceutical services is patient received good quality of medicine, proper information, and prevention of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Hospital and community pharmacists have implemented Standard of Pharmaceutical Services. Documentation of medicine information and counselling has been reported to Ministry of Health regularly. Many programmes, activities have been conducted to ensure quality of care, including prevention of adverse drug reactions.