Coronavirus disease patients’ views and experiences of pharmaceutical care services in Lebanon

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to explore the experiences and views of domiciliary coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients towards pharmaceutical care services provided during their infection. Methods This was a single-centred observational study conducted among home-treated COVID-19 patients (n = 500), who were tested positive for COVID-19 in a medical centre in Lebanon. Key findings Out of the 500 home-treated COVID-19 patients invited to participate in the study, 279 patients completed the questionnaire. Although the participants had a good view of pharmacists caring for COVID-19 patients (mean view score: 17.79/25), their treatment experiences were unsatisfactory (mean experience score: 1.51/4). Conclusions COVID-19 patients reported minimal involvement of pharmacists in their treatment. Therefore, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare authorities should intervene in restructuring, guiding and reviewing unrealized new pharmaceutical services to COVID-19 outpatients.

Assessing the pharmaceutical care provision to suspected COVID-19 patients in community pharmacies: a simulated patient study

“…CPs are uniquely placed to provide services for patients with suspected COVID-19. As such, patients primarily seek medical advice from CPs, who provide consultations free of charge [ 14 , 15 ]. This situation raised concerns about the preparedness of CPs in facing these challenges solely.…”

“…Moreover, the Lebanese healthcare system became saturated as hospitals were unable to attend all COVID-19 patients who required medical care. In the midst of this situation, community pharmacists were available in providing services for patients with suspected COVID-19, especially because there were limited resources available for free screening offered by the government [ 15 , 18 ]. Many patients primarily sought medical advice from community pharmacists, who provide consultations free of charge [ 15 ].…”

“…In the midst of this situation, community pharmacists were available in providing services for patients with suspected COVID-19, especially because there were limited resources available for free screening offered by the government [ 15 , 18 ]. Many patients primarily sought medical advice from community pharmacists, who provide consultations free of charge [ 15 ]. Therefore, in response to this high flow of patients’ visits to community pharmacies, this study was conducted during the second wave of COVID-19, between January and February 2021.…”

“…At the time of writing this manuscript, most studies that evaluated the quality of pharmaceutical care services in response to COVID-19 were self-administered questionnaires that are prone to bias and do not reflect the actual behavior of pharmacy staff [ 15 , 19 , 20 ]. However, a recent study from Saudi Arabia, conducted at the beginning of the outbreak using the simulated client technique, has reflected a low level of community pharmacy preparedness for COVID-19 regarding the availability and quality of PPE, health promotional services, and counseling against the outbreak [ 21 ].…”

Study of climatology parameters on COVID-19 outbreak in Jordan

“…Mukattash et al ( 2021 ) investigated the experiences and perspectives of patients with coronavirus illness (COVID-19) who received pharmacological therapy during their infection in Lebanon. Two hundred seventy-nine patients completed the questionnaire in single-centered observational research among home-treated COVID-19 patients ( n = 500).…”