Pharmacists' perceived barriers towards delivering their emergency roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and perceived policymakers' responsibilities

Iman A Basheti; Razan Nassar; Muna Barakat; Rajaa Alqudah; Rana Abu Farha; Tareq Muqatash; Samar Thiab; Bandana Saini

doi:10.1186/s40545-020-00254-y

Pharmacists' perceived barriers towards delivering their emergency roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and perceived policymakers' responsibilities

J Pharm Policy Pract. 2020 Aug 16:13:62. doi: 10.1186/s40545-020-00254-y. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Iman A Basheti¹, Razan Nassar¹, Muna Barakat¹, Rajaa Alqudah¹, Rana Abu Farha¹, Tareq Muqatash², Samar Thiab³, Bandana Saini⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan.
² Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Amman, Jordan.
³ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan.
⁴ College of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Abstract

Rational: In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus infectious disease as a pandemic referred to as COVID-19. As an essential service, community pharmacists have been enacting a key role in patient counseling and supply of essential medicines and protective equipment.

Objectives: To investigate pharmacists' perspectives of the role of educational institutes and professional pharmacy organizations in supporting them to take on roles during COVID-19 pandemic and to identify barriers to be able to support themselves and their patients.

Methods: This descriptive mixed-method study was conducted via a cross-sectional online survey distributed to pharmacists/pharmacy students in Jordan during the COVID-19 outbreak (15-30 March 2020) using an online questionnaire, followed by an online focus group. Questionnaire items related to participants' perspectives in being prepared for and supported in their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, and items were tested for face validity. Data were descriptively analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and triangulated with focus group findings.

Results: Considering that fear and anxiety are a consequence of mass social distancing/quarantine, study participants (n = 726, age = 26.9 (SD = 8.0) years, 71.9% females), reported needing training on mental healthcare to be able to support themselves and people during pandemics (90.2%). Most respondents agreed/strongly agreed (59.7%) with the statement around pharmacy educators/educational institutes having a key role in preparing pharmacists for practice during epidemics/pandemics and agreed that their faculties should add a course regarding pandemic preparedness in their curriculum (89.9%). Results were similar regarding roles for the pharmaceutical associations. Focus group findings (n = 7) mirrored the survey findings to a large extent.

Conclusions: Most participants believed that pharmacy educators and pharmaceutical associations have a role in preparing them to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic through online educational workshops/webinars. Online education on mental healthcare is specifically needed.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Educational institutes; Faculty of Pharmacy; Jordan; Pandemics; Pharmaceutical association; Pharmacy educators.