Pharmacists’ perception of pharmaceutical care in community pharmacy: a questionnaire survey in Northwest China

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of community pharmacists towards the concept of pharmaceutical care, implementing frequencies of pharmaceutical care, and barriers to implementation of pharmaceutical care in China. A 38-item self-completion pre-tested questionnaire was administered to a quota sample of 130 pharmacists in community pharmacies in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, northwest China in April 2008. Main outcome measures included understanding of pharmaceutical care; perceived frequency of pharmaceutical care activities; attitude towards pharmaceutical care; barriers to implementation of pharmaceutical care. A response rate of 77.7% (101/130) was achieved. The data were analysed descriptively. Factor analysis was used to explore potential barriers to the provision of pharmaceutical care. Respondents' understanding of the definition of pharmaceutical care was not entirely satisfactory: it was widely but incorrectly seen as a medication counselling service and many pharmacists appeared to misunderstand their role in the process. Respondents spent most of their work time performing prescription checks and providing patients with directions for drug administration, dosage, and precautions, but they tended to ignore health promotion within and outside of pharmacy settings. Factor analysis suggested four factors influencing the implementation of pharmaceutical care in the surveyed community pharmacies: lack of external conditions for developing or providing pharmaceutical care, lack of time and skills, absence of information and economic incentive, and lack of full support from other health professionals, with a cumulative variance of 64.7%. Cronbach's alpha for the four factors was 0.71, 0.72, 0.69 and 0.74, respectively. Although the respondent pharmacists had a certain degree of understanding of the definition, aim, function and use of pharmaceutical care, and carried out some activities currently, a range of barriers need to be overcome before comprehensive pharmaceutical care becomes a reality in China. These barriers could be overcome through participation in effective continuing educational programmes, availability of more resources, effective collaboration with other health professionals.

Community pharmacists’ perceptions about pharmaceutical care of OTC western medicine: a survey in Harbin of China

“…This is consistent with a common finding that, despite pharmacists' practice being strictly controlled and monitored by the China Food and Drug Administration, a clear role definition of community pharmacists and efficient implementation of related regulations are considered to be lacking [3]. Another study found that some pharmacists in China also deny their role in providing health education at community pharmacy for better use of OTC WM [4]. On the other hand, 24.3 % respondents in this study indicated that consumers are not always willing to receive the service.…”

Pharmacy Students' Attitudes Toward Pharmaceutical Care in Qatar

“…[9][10][11][12][13][14] In addition to addressing the time barrier, to fully implement the practice of PC, it is vital to prepare not only pharmacy practitioners of today but most notably the pharmacy practitioners of tomorrow. Many studies have described the role that pharmacy school educators should play in supporting the development of PC practitioners.…”

“…This barrier has also been reported in previous studies among pharmacists in Argentina, China, Northern Ireland, and Qatar. 13,14,35,40 Markedly, with two or less pharmacists and less than one technician per pharmacy, and the high number of prescriptions dispensed, the perceived barrier of insufficient time to implement PC is reasonable and understandable. For Qatar pharmacists to implement PC practice, more pharmacy technicians need to be hired and better demarcation should exist between their role and that of pharmacists in this country.…”

Pharmaceutical care in Brazilian community pharmacies: Knowledge and practice

“…This shows that professionals were not prepared to perform the service since they did not have a satisfactory knowledge of PC. In countries such as China and Jordan, where PC is more widespread than in Brazil, at least 60% of pharmacists correctly knew the definition of this clinical practice (Aburuz et al, 2012;Fang et al, 2011). The lack of knowledge regarding PC could also be strengthened by the existence of pharmacies where employees (non-pharmaceutical) were responsible for the service.…”