Separation of dispensing and prescribing in Malaysia: will the time come?

Mak, Vivienne

doi:10.1002/jppr.1162

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 6 publications

(4 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, many pharmacy‐related issues have arisen since then that may affect current job satisfaction and job stress. For example, with the shortage of positions within the public sector, there has been an increasing number of pharmacy graduates working in the community setting . Moreover, a lack of government regulations to control the distribution of pharmacies and the pricing of pharmaceutical products has led to high market competition, particularly in urban areas .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, a lack of government regulations to control the distribution of pharmacies and the pricing of pharmaceutical products has led to high market competition, particularly in urban areas . In addition, Malaysia is a dispensing market and the separation between dispensing and prescribing, although practiced in the hospital setting, is yet to be implemented in the community setting . These issues could potentially affect pharmacists’ roles in delivering health care, as well as their views and experience, and hence may affect their job satisfaction and stress levels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, with the shortage of positions within the public sector, there has been an increasing number of pharmacy graduates working in the community setting. 19 Moreover, a lack of government regulations to control the distribution of pharmacies and the pricing of pharmaceutical products has led to high market competition, particularly in urban areas. 20 In addition, Malaysia is a dispensing market and the separation between dispensing and prescribing, although practiced in the hospital setting, is yet to be implemented in the community setting.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…20 In addition, Malaysia is a dispensing market and the separation between dispensing and prescribing, although practiced in the hospital setting, is yet to be implemented in the community setting. 19 These issues could potentially affect pharmacists' roles in delivering health care, as well as their views and experience, and hence may affect their job satisfaction and stress levels. In the context of these changes, it is imperative to determine current levels of, as well as factors affecting, community pharmacists' job satisfaction and stress.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Job satisfaction and stress levels among community pharmacists in Malaysia

Teong

Paraidathathu

et al. 2019

Pharmacy Practice and Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Community pharmacists have an important role in ensuring safe and effective use of medicines. However, poor job satisfaction and high stress levels may negatively affect job performance. Aim This study evaluated job satisfaction and job stress levels, and associated factors, among community pharmacists in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Methods A cross‐sectional survey was conducted to assess job satisfaction and stress among community pharmacists. A sample of 286 respondents was selected using stratified‐random clustered sampling. Levels of and factors affecting job satisfaction and stress, as reported by community pharmacists, were analysed. Results There was a moderate level of job satisfaction among pharmacists (mean (±SD) score 3.39 ± 0.42; range 1–5). Job characteristics that provided the highest satisfaction were work environment and interpersonal relationships with coworkers. Stress levels among pharmacists were below the scale mid‐point (mean (±SD) score 1.86 ± 0.44; range 1–4). Responsibility for patient care was perceived to contribute most to job stress. Ethnicity (p = 0.026) and average number of prescriptions filled daily (p = 0.016) significantly affected job satisfaction, whereas job stress was significantly affected by age (p < 0.001), years of experience (p = 0.003) and number of working hours/week (p = 0.003). Conclusions This study demonstrates the effects of various demographic and job‐related variables on community pharmacists’ job satisfaction and stress. Further research is required to gain a better understanding of factors affecting job satisfaction and stress among pharmacists across Malaysia, and their effects on professional practice and patient care.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Job satisfaction and stress levels among community pharmacists in Malaysia

Teong

Paraidathathu

et al. 2019

Pharmacy Practice and Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Most of the community pharmacies in this study are located in residential areas, towns, and markets, and provide greater access to medicines to people living in and around these areas. This is a different approach to community pharmacy positioning because earlier community pharmacies were mostly set up in a nearby colony near hospitals or medical clinics to provide easier access to consumers [ 12 ]. As people moved from traditional colonies of houses to modern condominiums with integrated housing and other facilities, community pharmacies needed to position themselves to serve their consumers better.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positioning and Utilization of Information and Communication Technology in Community Pharmacies of Selangor, Malaysia: Cross-Sectional Study

Lim

Low

et al. 2020

JMIR Med Inform

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Information and communication technology (ICT) is an essential element of modern “smart” cities. These smart cities have integrated housing, marketplace, public amenities, services, business, and transportation via ICT. ICT is also now widely used in urban health care delivery. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the positioning and roles of ICT in community pharmacies in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to January 2019 across 9 different subdistricts in the state of Selangor, including Subang Jaya, Cheras, Puchong, Port Klang, Kota Kemuning, Selayang, Chow Kit, Ampang, and Seri Kembangan. A total of 90 community pharmacists were approached from the 9 subdistricts and invited to participate in the study. Results Of the 90 community pharmacies approached, 60 agreed to participate in the study, representing a response rate of 67%. The majority (36/60, 60%) of the respondents were women, and more than half (32/60, 53%) of the community pharmacies were run by young adults (ie, 30 years old and younger). More than three-quarters of the community pharmacies (46/60, 77%) used electronic health records. Half of the community pharmacies used online social media platforms for advertising and promoting their pharmacies. The vast majority of the community pharmacies (55/60, 92%) were using modern electronic payment systems, and some were also using other new electronic payment methods. Moreover, most of the community pharmacies (41/60, 68%) were using software and programs for accounting and logistics purposes. In addition, 47/60 (78%) of the community pharmacies used a barcode reading system for medicines/health products, and 16/60 (27%) of the pharmacies had online stores, and consumers could buy medicines and health products from these pharmacies via their online portal. In addition, 20/60 (33%) of the community pharmacies used at least one of the common online business platforms available in Southeast Asia to sell products/medicines. The telephone was the most commonly used means of communication with patients, although some pharmacies also used email, WhatsApp, SMS text messaging, and other communication platforms. Conclusions This study showed that the majority of community pharmacies in Selangor, Malaysia are using ICT for different purposes. However, there is still limited use of mobile apps to provide health services. Overall, community pharmacies have been adopting ICT apps for pharmacy services but the rate of adoption is relatively slower than that in other sectors of Malaysia.

show abstract

The Significance of Community Pharmacies' Services Beyond Dispensing Separation: A Rapid Scoping Review

Hamzah

2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The debate on dispensing separation (DS) for community pharmacists in Malaysia has been going on for decades, with numerous arguments arising. Given the evolving role of community pharmacists from medication dispensing to patient care services nowadays, community-based pharmacist practitioners in community-based settings are now capable of developing innovative community pharmacy practices and providing patient care services as a step towards the absence of DS. Objective: The objectives of this rapid scoping review are to provide an overview of the alternative initiatives that can be pursued by community pharmacies beyond DS by incorporating recent reviews and to identify whether these alternative initiatives have benefited patients’ health outcomes in specific diseases, medication management, and quality of life. Method: A systematic literature search was executed on SCOPUS, Web of Science (WOS), and PubMed databases from the time of inception to April 23, 2023, to recognize recent reviews and observational studies related to the alternative initiatives that can be pursued by community pharmacies beyond DS. Inclusion criteria were community pharmacy setting, community pharmacists’ population, full articles published in the English language, and articles published from 2018 to 2023. Results: The review included a total of 19 studies, which consist of 15 review papers, 1 study was a pilot randomised control trial (RCT), and another 3 were observational studies (cross-sectional, cohort, and multicentre descriptive studies). Community pharmacists conducting medication reviews and providing educational counseling were the most common in the 9 included literature searches. These are followed by specialized care services for specific diseases or illnesses being offered by community pharmacists underlined in 9 included studies, such as management of anticoagulation, minor ailments, epilepsy care, chronic pain intervention, obesity and weight services, medicine and alcohol consultation, and other chronic diseases care such as diabetes and hypertension. There were another 3 studies that highlight the expansion of community pharmacists’ services and their responsibilities in preserving continuity of care for society during public health emergencies. Key findings from all 19 studies exhibited a good impact on patient’s adherence to the medication, medication management, significant reduction in DRPs and severity of the diseases, increased detection of ADRs, optimized therapy in chronic diseases, and improved patients’ clinical and health outcomes. Conclusion: Despite the nonexistence of DS policy and its unrealistic implementation within community-based pharmacist practitioners, becoming “indispensable” and evolving to community-based patient care service delivery covering medication optimization, wellness and prevention, chronic and acute care management, and patient education could be successful practice opportunities for community pharmacists.

show abstract

Separation of dispensing and prescribing in Malaysia: will the time come?

Cited by 4 publications

References 6 publications

Job satisfaction and stress levels among community pharmacists in Malaysia

Job satisfaction and stress levels among community pharmacists in Malaysia

Positioning and Utilization of Information and Communication Technology in Community Pharmacies of Selangor, Malaysia: Cross-Sectional Study

The Significance of Community Pharmacies' Services Beyond Dispensing Separation: A Rapid Scoping Review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About