Community Pharmacists: On the frontline of health service against COVID-19 in LMICs

Hedima, Erick Wesley; Adeyemi, Michael Samuel; Ikunaiye, Nasiru Yakubu

doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.04.013

Cited by 146 publications

(138 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(14 reference statements)

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“…Similar to our finding, public health emergencies like COVID-19 need a multidisciplinary effort to control and improve patients treatment outcome [12]. Due to the more accessible nature of community pharmacies, linking patients who are suspected to COVID-19 to healthcare system is feasible and more helpful to contain the pandemic disease [21,22]. In addition; staff shifting, backup plans, alternative pharmacy services and other intervention mechanisms should be considered to halt the spread of the disease.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Pharmacy preparedness and response for the prevention and control of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Aksum, Ethiopia; a qualitative exploration

Kasahun

Kahsay

Asayehegn

et al. 2020

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background Novel Coronavirus is a global pandemic affecting all walks of life and it significantly changed the health system practices. Pharmacists are at the front line and have long been involved in combating this public health emergency. Therefore, the study was aimed to explore pharmacy preparedness and response to prevent and control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A qualitative study was conducted in six pharmacies in Aksum, Ethiopia in May, 2020. We conducted six in-depth interviews with purposively selected key informants. Direct observation measures were made to assess the activities made in the medicine retail outlets for the prevention and control of the pandemic. Interview data were audio-recorded, translated and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data and OpenCode version 4.02 software was used to facilitate the data analysis. Results The thematic analysis has resulted in seven major themes. Good preparedness measures were undertaken to control and prevent COVID-19. Study informants had good knowledge about the pandemic disease and reported they had used different resource materials to update themselves. Preparing of alcohol-based hand-rub, availing finished sanitizers and alcohol, and advising clients to maintain physical distancing were the major counseling information being delivered to prevent the disease. Some tendencies of irrational drug use and false claims of COVID-19 were observed at the beginning of the pandemic. Interview informants had reported they were working with relevant stakeholders and appropriate patient education and support were given to combat the pandemic. Conclusion The study revealed necessary pharmacy services has been rendered to all clients. However, availability of drugs and medical supplies were scarce which negatively affected the optimal delivery of pharmacy services. The government and other responsible bodies should work together to solve such problems and contain the pandemic.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Pharmacy preparedness and response for the prevention and control of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Aksum, Ethiopia; a qualitative exploration

Kasahun

Kahsay

Asayehegn

et al. 2020

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…Emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19can occur anywhere in the world. By being part of the health careteam, pharmacists can be exposed to the risk of infection [18]. Here, we present the results of aquestionnaire study about the knowledge, attitudes and practices ofEgyptian senior pharmacy students towards the COVD-19 disease.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-sectional study on awareness and knowledge of COVID-19 among senior pharmacy students.

Hamza

Badary

Elmazar

2020

Preprint

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Extraordinary actions have been implemented in an effort to control the rapid spread of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic in Egypt. People’s adherence to control measures is influenced by their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards the disease. Therefore, in the present study we assessed pharmacy senior students’ knowledge, attitudes and practices towards the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire was created and it consisted of 12 questions testing their knowledge about COVID-19nclinical characteristics, transmission routes and prevention and control steps. Among senior pharmacy students (n=238), 70% were females and 63% were living in greater Cairo. Their main source of information included social media (70%), published articles (48%) and television (48%). The overall correct knowledge score was 83%. Most of the students displayed a good COVID-19 knowledge level (72.5% of the students). The students were least informed when trying to answer questions about hyper-coagulation, as a major cause for death in patients with severe COVID-19, and about the timings on the necessity to wear masks practice. Assessment of students’ attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 reflected that 87% of them were confident that health care teams and scientists could win the fight against the virus. In addition, 72% of students agreed that COVID-19 will be controlled successfully. The greater the students’ knowledge, the more confident they felt that COVID-19 will be controlled successfully (OR = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-4.72). Good behavioral practice towards COVID-19 control was confirmed when 87% of students answered that they didn’t go out to any crowded place. Females were 3.6 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–3.11) more likely to avoid going out than males. Bad behavioral practice became evident when approximately 50% of students admitted that they did not wear masks when they left their house. Therefore, more efforts should be taken to protect future pharmacists from this pandemic.

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“…In addition to point-of-care testing for chronic disease management, pharmacists will also play a key role in COVID-19 testing (31). Pharmacists across the country have been called on to coordinate the administration of COVID-19 tests (32)(33)(34). In the future, providing ongoing COVID-19 surveillance to communities by allowing walk-in testing at community pharmacies might be more sustainable and convenient than the large-scale public screening being done as of the summer of 2020.…”

Section: July 2020mentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Pharmacists’ Contributions to Disease Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2020

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What is already known on this topic? More than 90% of people in the United States live within 5 miles of a community pharmacy. Pharmacists deliver important public health services such as vaccinations, point-of-care testing, and chronic and acute disease prevention and management. These services are and will continue to be critical in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. What is added by this report? The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated needed roles for the community pharmacist in an emergency, including continuity of provision of medications, providing preventive services, and ensuring health equity. Along with medication management, pharmacists provide infectious disease mitigation, point-of-care testing, and vaccinations. What are the implications for public health practice? Community pharmacists are essential contributors to public health and play a key role as the United States continues to combat COVID-19, especially among populations with health disparities.

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Community Pharmacists: On the frontline of health service against COVID-19 in LMICs

Cited by 146 publications

References 13 publications

Pharmacy preparedness and response for the prevention and control of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Aksum, Ethiopia; a qualitative exploration

Pharmacy preparedness and response for the prevention and control of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Aksum, Ethiopia; a qualitative exploration

Cross-sectional study on awareness and knowledge of COVID-19 among senior pharmacy students.

Community Pharmacists’ Contributions to Disease Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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