Nurses perception of pharmaceutical care practice: A qualitative approach

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the perception of nurses regarding pharmaceutical care services in the healthcare system of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Province of Pakistan.Methods: This qualitative study was implemented by conducting semi-structured interviews. For data collection, interviews (face-to-face) were conducted after developing an interview guide. The interviewees were 18 nurses and were interviewed at their nursing stations in hospitals. Interviews were continued until the data reached a saturation point. The respondents signed a written consent form before the start of the interview.Results: From the thematic content analysis, five major themes were extracted as stated here: (a) incognizance of pharmaceutical care; (b) collaboration of nurses and pharmacists; (c) improper distribution system; (d) lack of provision of patient counseling; and (e) pharmacist’s role in reducing prescribing errors.Conclusion: Based to the findings, Pakistani nurses have poor knowledge of pharmaceutical care, thus highlighting the need for organizing pharmaceutical care awareness programs for nurses. On the other hand, nurses have a positive perception of pharmacists’ roles in the healthcare system and want to work with them.
 Keywords: Perception, Pharmaceutical care, Qualitative study, Nurse, Patient care

Perceptions and expectations of health professionals regarding hospital pharmacy services and the roles of hospital pharmacists: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis

“… Outpatient/ambulatory; Geriatric unit Doctors/physician: 6 Nurses: 8 14 (total = 17) Focus groups Thematic analysis Minor concern Isleem et al 2022 35 Qatar To investigate the perceptions of healthcare providers of the impact of tele-pharmacy services provided in critical care units during COVID-19 COVID-19 Intensive Care Units Doctor/physician: 15 Nurse: 5 20 Interviews Thematic analysis; Mixed-methods Moderate concern Jennings et al 2017 36 France To assess the satisfaction of physician's satisfaction with clinical pharmacy activities in a French regional hospital. Medical; Surgical Doctor/physician: 62 62 Surveys; Other: face-to-face surveys Thematic analysis Serious concern Kharaba et al 2020 37 Pakistan To evaluate the perception of nurses regarding pharmaceutical care services in the healthcare system of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan Unknown Nurse: 18 18 Interviews Thematic analysis Minor concern Krzyzaniak, Pawlowska and Bajorek 2019 38 Australia and Poland To explore the attitudes and perceptions of medical and nursing healthcare professionals toward the role of the pharmacist and the provision of pharmaceutical care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Doctor/physician: 42 Nurse: 33 Midwife: 2 170 (77 Australians and 93 Polish) Surveys Mixed-methods Minor concern Lee et al 2016 39 South Korea To explore the need for pharmaceutical care services, key features of desirable pharmacy services, and perceived barriers for advancing the services in hospital environments with doctors and nurses who are key co-workers of the interdisciplinary team care services Medical Doctor/physician: 18 Nurse: 15 33 Interviews Framework analysis No or very minor concern Livori et al 2021 40 Australia ...…”

“… Theme Descriptive Theme Scope of Each Theme Country Specific roles and activities of hospital pharmacists Dispensing, procurement, compounding, and quality control Activities included but were not limited to naming, labelling, packaging, purchasing, logistics, compounding, quality testings, storage, and disposal of medicines. Australia 38 Brazil 30 Indonesia 6 Ireland 44 Malta 21 Mexico 29 Pakistan 37 Poland 38 Portugal 45 Sweden 47 Switzerland 25 Portugal 45 Medication reconciliation and medication safety activities Medication reconciliation: activities such as obtaining the patient's comprehensive medication history at admission. Medication safety: activities that involved monitoring and reporting adverse effects from medications such as pharmacovigilance and reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADR).…”

“… Australia 20 , 40 , 45 , 46 , 50 Canada 53 Indonesia 6 Ireland 44 South Korea 39 USA 5 Malta 21 Portugal 45 Unknown 48 Medication reviews and/or prescribing feedback Activities that involved reviewing the medications prescribed during admission, aimed at identifying any potential medication-related problems and promoting the quality use of medicines. Australia 26 , 45 , 50 Canada 27 Ethiopia 43 , 49 Indonesia 6 Ireland 44 Malta 21 Mexico 29 Pakistan 23 , 37 Qatar 35 Sweden 31 , 33 , 52 Switzerland 25 UK 41 USA 5 , 28 , 34 , 42 Unknown 24 , 48 Proactive roles in medication-related therapy decisions Collaborative activities or discussions between pharmacists and other members of the multidisciplinary team that occurred before prescribing any medications or making therapeutic decisions. Australia 20 , 38 , 45 , …”

“… Australia 20 , 38 , 45 , 50 , 51 Ethiopia 49 India 32 Indonesia 6 Malaysia 19 Malta 21 Pakistan 22 South Korea 39 Qatar 35 Sweden 31 , 33 Switzerland 25 USA 28 , 34 , 42 Unknown 48 Drug information and education for other health professionals Activities that were designed to assist health professionals in obtaining information regarding medications in general or to aid in prescribing e.g., continuing education sessions. Australia 20 , 38 , 45 , 46 Brazil 30 Canada 27 Ethiopia 49 France 36 India 32 Indonesia 6 Malaysia 19 Malta 21 Mexico 29 Pakistan 23 , 37 Portugal 45 , 46 South Korea 39 Qatar 35 Sweden 31 , 33 Switzerland 25 UK 41 USA 28 , ...…”

“… Communication at discharges and transitions of care: activities that facilitated efficient hospital discharges and transitions by involving communication with community caregivers and health professionals. Australia 40 , 45 , 46 Brazil 30 Canada 27 Ethiopia 49 Indonesia 6 Malaysia 19 Malta 21 Pakistan 23 , 37 Sweden 31 , 33 , 47 USA 5 , 34 Unknown 48 Independent prescribing and diagnosis Activities that involved prescribing directly by pharmacists with no or little involvement by other health professionals. Australia 45 , 51 Canada 27 Ethiopia 49 Indonesia 6 Pakistan 22 Research and medication governance Research: activities that involved research and the dissemination of findings to wider communities.…”