Role Of Community Pharmacists In The Healthcare System Of Dubai, United Arab Emirates: A Mix Methodology Study Of Perspectives Among Health Care Professionals And General Public

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Date
2015-06
Authors
Rayes, Ibrahim Khalid
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Abstract
Community pharmacists have closer proximity to patients than ever in many parts of the world. In a developing city like Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), little is documented about the role of community pharmacists in the context of healthcare system. To effectively understand the role of community pharmacists and challenges they are facing within the healthcare system of Dubai, it is essential to explore perceptions of different stakeholders (General public, physicians, nurses, and community pharmacists). Mixed research techniques (qualitative and quantitative) were used in this research work. In the qualitative phase of this thesis, four studies were done. The first study used focus group method with general public and 25 individuals participated in 4 discussion sessions. Studies 2, 3 and 4 used face-to-face interview method with physicians, nurses, and community pharmacists. Twelve health care professionals participated in each study. Thematic content analysis of the qualitative studies yielded major themes such as: pharmacist as a health care professional in stakeholders‟ minds, perceptions towards pharmacists, important determinants of a pharmacist, the effect of the pharmacy on the pharmacist, willingness to collaborate with pharmacists, relationship between health care professionals, and obstacles to enhanced pharmacy services. The major finding from the qualitative part of this research work is that general public and healthcare professionals positively perceive the role of community pharmacists in Dubai. They believe that they are the main source of information related to medicines. In addition, different stakeholders pointed that the presence of a pharmacist is essential to any medical team. Based on the findings from the qualitative phase, two cross-sectional nation-wide surveys were conducted to explore perceptions of general public and community pharmacists on the professional role of community pharmacists in the healthcare system of Dubai. Statistical analysis of the responses formed an insight about the current scenario of pharmacy practice in Dubai, challenges faced, and obstacles to optimized delivery of pharmacy services. Both studies found that community pharmacists in Dubai are well positioned within the healthcare system. In addition, general public were found to trust pharmacists‟ instructions and advices regarding the correct and safe use of medicines with some impediments like perceiving them –occasionally- as business people or medicine dispensers. Community pharmacists stated that they provide enhanced pharmacy services to their customers and spend 3-5 minutes with each patient for consultation and advice. They added that they face some challenges while practicing like shortage of licensed pharmacists and time to offer services to patients, lack of financial rewards from enhanced pharmacy services, under-estimation by other health care professionals including physicians and nurses and pharmacy clients, pressure from stakeholders imposed on pharmacists to reach sales targets, and imbalanced training requirements by different pharmacy colleges for their undergraduate pharmacy students. This thesis has identified the current emplacement of pharmacy practice in the healthcare system of Dubai, UAE. Future actions such as planning and comprehensive update of rules and regulations are much required. Based on the findings of this research work, a number of recommendations directed towards all stakeholders have been made in order to bring necessary changes in the healthcare system through promoting the role of pharmacists within the community and redirecting perceptions of other health care professionals and general public into building greater demand and acceptance to community pharmacists in the future.
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Pharmacists , Health Care
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