Attitudes and Perceptions of Pharmacists About Home care pharmacy services in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the attitudes and perceptions of pharmacists about home care pharmacy services in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study analyzed a cross-sectional survey that discussed the attitudes and perceptions of pharmacists about home care pharmacy services in Saudi Arabia. The survey consisted of respondents' demographic information about pharmacist's perception of home healthcare pharmacy services, barriers, which factors may discourage the implementation of home care pharmacy services, and recommendations/suggestions for facilitating the implementation of home healthcare pharmacy services. The 5-point Likert response scale system was used with closed-ended questions. The survey was validated through the revision of expert reviewers and pilot testing. Besides, various tests of reliability, McDonald's ω, Cronbach alpha, Gutmann's λ2, and Gutmann's λ6 were done with the study. Furthermore, the data analysis of the attitudes and perceptions of pharmacists about home care pharmacy services is done through the survey monkey system. Besides, the statistical package of social sciences (SPSS), Jeffery's Amazing Statistics Program (JASP), and Microsoft Excel sheet version 16. Results: A total number of 393 pharmacists responded to the questionnaire. Of them, more than three-quarters responded from the Central region (303 (77.10%)), with statistically significant differences between the provinces (p=0.000). Males responded less than females (195 (49.74%)) versus 197 (50.26%%)), with statistically non-significant differences between them (p=0.920). Most of the responders were in the age group of 24-35 years (267 (67.94%)) and 36-45 years (121 (30.79%)), with statistically significant differences between all age groups (p=0.000). The average score of perception of pharmacists about home healthcare pharmacy services was (4.33). The element "Electronic prescribing in home healthcare pharmacy has a positive outcome to patients" obtained the highest score (4.45). The aspect "The off-labeling system in home healthcare pharmacy should be implemented to protect the healthcare providers from any liability" (4.44). The responders who agreed that they should be authorized and responsible for providing home healthcare pharmacy services to the patient was a pharmacist (4.30), clinical pharmacist (4.27), and Pharmacy technician (4.26), with statistically significant difference between the responses (p<0.000). The average score for "barriers might prevent home healthcare pharmacy services implementation" was (4.33). The score for the element "Fear of legal liability" was (4.52), the aspect "Limited number of pharmacists who are specialized in geriatric patients when needed "was (4.46), and the element "Unaware of the need and importance of home healthcare pharmacy services" was (4.46). Conclusion: The attitudes and perceptions of pharmacists about home care pharmacy services are acceptable. All obstacles preventing home care pharmacy services should be removed. Standardized home care pharmacy services are highly recommended in S...