ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICES IN BEIRUT, LEBANON

Authors

Mira Medawar, Pharm D, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonFollow
Maha Aboul Ela, Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonFollow
Souraya Domiati, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonFollow

English Title

Pharmacists’ Involvement in Public Health Promotion

Keywords

Pharmacists, Public health, Promotion, Community, Barriers

Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Health Services Research | Pharmacy Administration, Policy and Regulation

Abstract

Background: The role of pharmacists is growing globally; the shift from the traditional role of preparing and dispensing medications, to a role in medication therapy management and public health services is started to be acceptable worldwide.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the participation level of community pharmacists’ in certain public health services promotion as well as the barriers that hindered such provision.

Method: A questionnaire based study has been carried targeting Lebanese community pharmacists working in Beirut, Lebanon. Socio-demographic information, types of public health consultations offered in the pharmacy, and the barriers confronted by the community pharmacists were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 24.

Results: The level of involvement of community pharmacists in the provision of public health services accounted for 72.6, 72.2, 65, 46.2, 46.2, and 45.3% in counseling on hypertension, weight management, diabetes, contraceptive use, smoking cessation, and drug abuse, respectively. The Level of education, as well as years of experience, affected the pharmacist’s involvement in most of the services. Sixty-one percent from the participants offer drug treatment options to help their patients in smoking cessation. Nutrition and diet showed the highest ranked in terms of percentage (82.9%) in weight management. Eighty-three percent of the respondents counseled their patients when to start their combined hormonal contraceptives pills. Fifty-eight percent from the respondents offer psychological support when counseling on drug abuse. The highest percentage is seen when counseling regarding lifestyle modifications in both diabetes and hypertension management. Lack of time was one of the most common barriers to practice health promotion encountered by pharmacists.

Conclusion: Even though the community pharmacists are playing a vital role in public health promotion, this role should be strengthen by implementing rules that impose this service and the necessary skills needed to achieve better outcomes.

Recommended Citation

Medawar, Mira; Aboul Ela, Maha; and Domiati, Souraya (2020) "ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICES IN BEIRUT, LEBANON," BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54729/2789-8288.1043