Background Community pharmacists have provided healthcare services uninterruptedly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their public health role is often overlooked. Objectives The purpose of this manuscript is to discuss the roles and the coping mechanisms of community pharmacists working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico. Methods A cross-sectional study, using an electronic survey, was conducted to assess the community pharmacists' response during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Puerto Rico. Two open-ended questions explored community pharmacist's opinions about the pharmacist's role and coping mechanisms during the pandemic. The responses were analyzed following an inductive thematic analysis. Two major themes emerged from their responses: professional and personal experiences. Results Of the 302 participants who completed the survey, 77% of them answered one or both open-ended questions. The answers were diverse, and the respondents went beyond the specific topics asked. In professional experiences , important roles as educators and providing continuity of care and emotional support to their patients were highlighted. They also expressed concerns and frustrations on the profession's shortcomings, feeling overworked yet with a lack of recognition. In personal experience s, most of the respondents were concerned about the impact of having to juggle work and home life. They also reported mental health concerns, expressing feeling stressed, overworked, and worried about the constant risk of exposure and fear of exposing their loved ones. Conclusion Community pharmacists in Puerto Rico ensured the continuation of care, provided education, and managed anxious and stressed patients. Most relied on family members to cope with the extra burden that the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of recognition created resentfulness among participants. It is essential to listen to our community pharmacists' voices to support and respond to their needs and learn from their experiences as front-line health care workers.
Objective The objective of this study was to assess community pharmacists’ willingness to test, treat and immunize for COVID-19 in Puerto Rico. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a 37-item survey was distributed via email and social media in May 2020 through REDCap online software. All licensed community pharmacists in Puerto Rico (N = 1200) were invited to complete the survey. Retired community pharmacists were excluded. Analysis of frequencies and chi-square tests were performed to evaluate the willingness to test, treat and immunize for COVID-19 and their associations with sociodemographic variables. Key findings The survey response rate was 26% (314/1200). Subjects’ mean age was 42 (±13), 86.1% were female, and most practiced in independent community or specialty pharmacy (62%). Among respondents, 44% reported willingness to test. Top concerns for testing were family (73.4%) and self (66.8%) exposure and ability to manage the workflow (53.3%). Most participants indicated their willingness to treat (88.4%) and to administer the COVID-19 vaccine (76.1%). Study participants who worked in retail pharmacies were more willing to test for COVID-19 (50.9%, P = 0.34) and to immunize (91.2%, P < 0.001). Pharmacists ≤39 years (90.3%), those who graduate in 2000 or later (88.3%), and those with a Pharm.D. degree or higher (88.6%), were more willing to immunize (P < 0.001). Conclusions Most community pharmacists were more willing to treat and immunize, than to perform COVID-19 testing. This underscores the need for training and workflow changes to facilitate the acquisition of this new role. Local pharmacists’ associations should advocate for a safe and manageable work environment. These efforts are vital to empower pharmacists to adopt new roles during a public health emergency.
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