Evaluation of Current Community Pharmacist Practice in Saudi Arabia—A Cross-Sectional Study from Pharmacists’ Perspective (Part II)

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the current practice of community pharmacists from patients’ and pharmacists’ perspectives in Saudi Arabia. This paper presents the pharmacist’s perspective. A cross-sectional self-administered online survey was designed to collect responses from community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia from February to April 2021. The questionnaire consisted of several statements related to best practice in community pharmacy. Pharmacists’ responses to each statement were scored using a 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores represented a greater extent to which they adhered to best practice in the community pharmacy setting and vice versa. Data of 164 participants were included in the analysis. The minimum median score was related to the statement: Pharmacist explains the main side effects. The maximum median score was related to the statement: Pharmacist explains dosage regimen. Pharmacists aged 30 years or above and non-Saudi pharmacists had significantly higher median scores compared with pharmacists less than 30 years of age (p = 0.016) and Saudi pharmacists, respectively (p = 0.001). A gap between best practice and current practice of community pharmacists was observed. Policymakers can utilize these findings to provide targeted professional development opportunities for the practicing community pharmacists in order to improve the overall service and care for patients.

Use of pharmacy services in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults; findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

“…medication dispensing). (12)(13)(14) There is wide variety in pharmacist willingness to provide and provision of pharmacy services across and between countries (15), with countries like New Zealand effectively scaling select pharmacy services (e.g. provision of trimethoprim for uncomplicated urinary tract infections, 85% of pharmacies surveyed) while other services are less frequently reported (e.g.…”

Use of pharmacy services in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults; findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

“…First, a number of studies have focused on community pharmacist perspectives on enhanced services, with pharmacists reporting they most frequently provide services considered standard practice while occupying conventional roles within the healthcare system (i.e., medication dispensing). 1 , 12 , 13 There is wide variation in pharmacist willingness to provide/provision of pharmacy services across and between countries, 14 with countries like New Zealand effectively scaling select pharmacy services (e.g., provision of trimethoprim for uncomplicated urinary tract infections, 85% of pharmacies surveyed) while other services are less frequently reported (e.g., supply selected oral contraceptives, 44% of pharmacists surveyed). 15 Although pharmacists in other countries report willingness to provide enhanced or expanded pharmacy services, information on the extent of service offering, availability, and uptake is limited.…”

Over-the-Counter Medication Use among Parents in Saudi Arabia

“…Although regulatory authorities carefully propose OTC medications to encourage safe and effective use, studies have shown a gap between best practice and the current practice of using OTC medications and have also highlighted the need for education efforts to change this behaviour [5,6]. Despite the presence of several regulations for OTC consumption in Saudi Arabia, up to 81% of the general population has reported using OTC medication at some point in their life [7].…”