Pharmacist-patient communication barriers in dispensing practice: a descriptive study in Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama City, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia

Abstract

Objectives Drug dispensers should provide appropriate, understandable and relevant information to patient about their medication. But poor communication between patient and pharmacist carries potential adverse clinical consequences. Patients with inadequate literacy and/or health literacy skills are the most likely to have difficulties in understanding proper drug use. Our study is intended to assess the extent of pharmacist-patient communication barriers in dispensing. . The survey data were collected both from pharmacists and patients through questionnaire and interview, respectively, and analysed manually by a data master sheet. Key findings A total of 345 outpatients who were collecting their medication from the Outpatient Department pharmacy and nine pharmacists were included in the study. 11.11% pharmacists utilised pictorial aid to their oral counselling. 77.78% of pharmacists can communicate in three languages (Amharic, Oromiffa and English). 20.87% of patients were geriatrics, 30.73% were illiterate and 34.20% were in low literacy. Misunderstanding of drug dose and frequency among illiterate and low literacy geriatric patients was 46.88%. 22.22% of geriatrics revisited the hospital for re-treatment of the same condition. Conclusions Counselling on dispensing is a fundamental step to enhance the patients' rational use of medicine. When patients' health is concerned, pharmacists should try their best to enhance the patient's understanding about medication use. Pharmacist-patient communication barriers in dispensing practiceTeshale Etiso Wado et al.

<p>Self-Medication and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Kemisie General Hospital, North East Ethiopia</p>

“…23,24 This was due to poor awareness of pregnant women regarding medicines, 17,25 selling of prescription medications without prescription and loose regulatory system. 26 The prevalence of herbal medicine use was 111 (49.8%; 95% CI: 43%-58%). This result was consistent with the study done at the University of Gondar referral and teaching hospital (48.6%).…”

“…23 , 24 This was due to poor awareness of pregnant women regarding medicines, 17 , 25 selling of prescription medications without prescription and loose regulatory system. 26 …”

Patients’ perception of the outpatient pharmaceutical service quality in hospital pharmacies with auditable pharmaceutical transactions and services in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…As related to pharmacists, patient counselling is a crucial component for better therapeutic outcomes. 26 However, on the one hand, pharmacists in Ethiopia focused primarily on dispensing medicines, and they were unable to deliver pharmaceutical service possibly due to lack of competency 20 ; on the other hand, Ethiopia has one of the lowest primary school enrolment rates and one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world, limited literacy of patients impeded understanding of proper medication use. 27 Both two factors may lead to patients’ low perception of medication therapy.…”

<p>Patient–Pharmacist Interaction in Ethiopia: Systematic Review of Barriers to Communication</p>

“…This was attributed to poor attitudes and lack of industriousness among professionals, lack of access to up-to-date references, and a loose regulatory system. 21 Pharmacy professional sympathy and friendliness had a significant impact on patient satisfaction and affected 5.9-66.2% of patient-pharmacist interactions. It is also a statistically significant determinant of satisfactory counseling.…”

“…35 Medication counseling in Ethiopia is limited to dispensing, due to patient load and poor attitude among pharmacy professionals and patients. 21 A very short dispensing time was considered as a major factor for inadequate provision of medication counseling since patients forget more than half of the information delivered to them via oral communication. 36 The work experience of pharmacy professionals was also a barrier for patient counseling (30%) 27 and significant factor (AOR = 2.99) for satisfactory counseling.…”