Community pharmacists' response to acute back pain: A simulated patient study in western region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate response of the community pharmacists to acute back pain consultations by the patients, using doctor of pharmacy degree (Pharm D) final year students as simulated patients. Method:The study was a cross-sectional study, conducted over a three months period from April 2016 to July 2016 in community pharmacy setting. The study was done at the western area in Saudi Arabia, at three cities: (Jeddah-Mecca-Taif). Convenient sample of 300 pharmacies were chosen. The students appeared in the pharmacy as patients. A check list was filled immediately after the visit. Results: Results of the study showed that most of pharmacies studied were chain pharmacies (67.3%). The response of the pharmacists towards patients' counseling ranges from (6-55%). The majority of the pharmacists did not ask about spreading of the pain (93%), other disease (91%), medications taken (90%), intensity of pain (83.67%), and duration (83%). There was a low response of pharmacists towards self-care, except rarely, who gave advice for back exercise (6.667%). About 98% and above, did not give information about expected drug problems. Referral was given mainly for numbness symptoms (10.67%). Types of medications recommended were diclofenac sodium (44.67%), muscle relaxants (28.67%) and topical NSAIDS (25.33%). About 70%, of the pharmacists did not give advice spontaneously. Counseling time was less than one minute in 67.67% of the cases. Conclusions: The response of community pharmacists, to acute back pain consultations was inadequate, which necessitates educational and training programs in minor disease treatment, and availability of national guidelines.

Critical appraisal of simulated patient methodology to assess the practice of community pharmacist in the Middle East and North Africa region: A systematic review

“…The target populations in all the studies were CP 28 (62.2%), 19-Boura F, Al-Tabakha M, Hassan N, Darwich M. Critical appraisal of simulated patient methodology to assess the practice of community pharmacist in the Middle East and North Africa region: A systematic review. Pharmacy Practice 2022 Jul-Sep;20(3):2701. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2022.3.2701 3 22,24,26,29,30,[32][33][34][35]38,39,41,42,46,47,[49][50][51][52][53][54][55][58][59][60] pharmacy staff (pharmacists and non-pharmacists) 10 (22.2%), 18,23,31,36,37,43,44,48,57,60 and CP and GP 1 (2.2%). 27 Table 1 provides a summary of the descriptive characteristics of the included studies in the review.…”

“…More than half of the studies reported the pharmacy and pharmacy staff related information 31 (68.9%). [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]28,29,[31][32][33]35,36,38,[41][42][43][44]46,[48][49][50][51][52]57,58,[60][61][62] Some studies got the information through direct questioning of the pharmacy representatives (manager or pharmacist in charge) 3 (6.7%), 23,25,28 or the participants whom the SP was interacting with 5(11.1%). 20,57,58,60,61 Others reported the information based on estimation 9 (20%), 19,26,31,36,38,42,49,61,61 or through surveying the participants 4 (8.9%).…”

“…22,30,35,46 In addition, some studies reported the counseling/dispensing duration 14 (31.1%), 26,28,31,35,36,[41][42][43]45,48,50,52,56,58 visit duration 7 (15.6%), 19,29,42,52,[60][61][62] and/or waiting duration 3 (6.7%). 22,36,52 The most outcome measured in the included studies was the adequacy of skill (pre-dispensing and/or post-dispensing) 38 (84.4%), 19,21,22,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]38,[40][41][42][43][44]…”

“…22,36,52 The most outcome measured in the included studies was the adequacy of skill (pre-dispensing and/or post-dispensing) 38 (84.4%), 19,21,22,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]38,[40][41][42][43][44][45][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][58][59][60][61][62] the the drug use pattern 19 (42.2%). 18,24,26,27,29,[31][32][33]36,[41]…”

Patient Safety Culture in Handling Prescriptions and Interprofessional Collaboration Practices Amongst Community Pharmacists: An Investigative Simulated Patient Study from the United Arab Emirates

“…The simulated patient method is a valuable research method to uncover real practice issues and is widely used in the UAE 9,10 and other countries in the region. [11][12][13][14] This method of research is often able to identify real practice challenges and lacunae in community pharmacy practice [15][16][17] and hence is employed more commonly these days.…”