Patterns of drug-related problems and the services provided to optimize drug therapy in the community pharmacy setting

Anan S Jarab; Walid Al-Qerem; Karem H Alzoubi; Mohammad Tharf; Shrouq Abu Heshmeh; Ahmad Al-Azayzih; Tareq L Mukattash; Amal Akour; Yazid N Al Hamarneh

doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101746

Patterns of drug-related problems and the services provided to optimize drug therapy in the community pharmacy setting

Saudi Pharm J. 2023 Sep;31(9):101746. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101746. Epub 2023 Aug 10.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
² Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan.
³ Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan.
⁴ Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
⁵ Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
⁶ Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
⁷ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Abstract

Introduction: Drug-related problems (DRPs) are events or circumstances involving drug therapy that actually or potentially interferes with desired health outcomes.

Objectives: To assess community pharmacists' knowledge and practice regarding DRP-reduction services, as well as the barriers and factors associated with decreased provision of these services.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a validated questionnaire to assess pharmacists' knowledge, practice, and barriers to the provision of DRP-reduction services in the community pharmacy setting. Binary regression model was used to assess the variables associated with the practice of DRP-reduction services.

Results: A total of 412 pharmacists participated in the study. The pharmacists demonstrated strong knowledge but inadequate practice of DRP-reduction services. The most reported DRPs were inappropriate combination of drugs, or drugs and herbal medications, or drugs and dietary supplements (52.4%), patients' inability to understand instructions properly (46.1%), inappropriate drug according to guidelines (43.7%), and too high dose (40.3%). The most common barriers to these services were increased workload (60.5%), limited time (53.2%), and lack of good communication skills (49.8%). The presence of a counselling area in the pharmacy increased the practice of DRP-reduction services (OR: 3.532, 95%Cl: 2.010-5.590, P < 0.001), while increased weekly working hours (OR: 0.966, 95%Cl: 0.947-0.986), P < 0.01) and serving < 10 patients daily (OR = 0.208, 95%Cl: 0.072-0.601, P < 0.01) decreased it.

Conclusions: Community pharmacists' practice of DRP-reduction services showed a scope for improvement. Future pharmaceutical care initiatives should increase the number of personnel working in the pharmacy and provide them with opportunities for continued education and training in order to improve the provision of DRP services and optimize patients' outcomes.

Keywords: Barrier; Community pharmacist; Drug-related problem; Knowledge; Pharmacy service; Practice.