The Perspectives of Community Pharmacists Toward the Name-Based Rationing System During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan: Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND In Taiwan’s public health system, community-based pharmacists are often regarded as the first-line healthcare providers due to their high accessibility. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was an acute shortage of masks and testing kits, pharmacists played a central role in the distribution of these supplies through the Name-Based Rationing Systems (NBRS) that helped reduce the spread of the disease. The NBRS, an innovative government-guided strategy developed after the COVID-19 outbreak, allowed the public to access masks and COVID-19 test kits equitably and conveniently. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate Taiwanese pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) for effectively responding to public health emergencies and the impact of the NBRS on community pharmacies. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in two major cities in Taiwan, from June 18th, 2022 to September 11th, 2022 during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic. To gauge community pharmacists’ KAP, a 66-question instrument was developed using multiple guidelines from Taiwan’s CDC, the International Pharmaceutical Federation, and the Taiwanese Pharmacist Association. The instrument was pilot-tested and externally validated by field experts. RESULTS 343 Taiwanese community pharmacists were recruited in the study. Among them, 88% scored high in knowledge domain questions related to COVID-19, 50% in positive attitude toward NBRS, and 75% in practicing infectious disease prevention measures compliant with official guidelines. Results demonstrated a high level of competency in pharmacists in a public health crisis. It revealed factors including pharmacy ownership, age, and KAP of COVID-19 were associated with their perceptions and willingness to continuously participate in the NBRS. Responses also highlighted concerns about rapid government policy changes and supply dynamics, underscoring the importance of effective communication and considering supply availability in facilitating a successful NBRS. CONCLUSIONS The community pharmacy NBRS is an effective system to minimize the uneven distribution of preventive supplies during a public health crisis. Despite varied responses to the rationing system, the NBRS optimized the accessibility of community pharmacy networks and the clinical expertise of pharmacists to achieve an equitable outcome.