ORIGINAL PAPER
Perceptions of the role of pharmacy assistants in providing patient
counselling in community pharmacies in Indonesia
1
Doctoral Program, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
2
Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
3
Centre of Public Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
Submission date: 2021-01-29
Final revision date: 2021-03-10
Acceptance date: 2021-04-07
Publication date: 2021-06-30
Medical Studies 2021;37(2):117-124
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Patient counselling is a part of pharmaceutical services, where there is interaction between pharmacy workers with patients to provide drug information to improve patient safety. Pharmacy assistants are on the frontline of community pharmaceutical services in Indonesia, but regulations do not give them the authority to provide patient counselling. Aim of the research: This study explored pharmacy workers’ perceptions about the role of pharmacy assistants to provide patient counselling within the community.
Material and methods:
This was an exploratory qualitative study with 17 participants, comprising 9 pharmacists and 8 pharmacy assistants recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected from May to June 2020. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data on pharmacy workers’ perceptions regarding patient counselling provided by pharmacy assistants. Data analysis was performed thematically.
Results:
This is the first study to date to explore the perceptions of pharmacy workers regarding the role of patient counselling by pharmacy assistants. Pharmacy workers believed that modified patient counselling could be conducted by pharmacy assistants, taking into account the following 6 aspects: the use of the term counselling, content and context, duration of interactions with patients, competency of service providers, infrastructure, and training needs.
Conclusions:
To be accepted by stakeholders, patient counselling provided by pharmacy assistants should be modified to consider aspects of competence and supportive infrastructure.
Patient counselling is a part of pharmaceutical services, where there is interaction between pharmacy workers with patients to provide drug information to improve patient safety. Pharmacy assistants are on the frontline of community pharmaceutical services in Indonesia, but regulations do not give them the authority to provide patient counselling. Aim of the research: This study explored pharmacy workers’ perceptions about the role of pharmacy assistants to provide patient counselling within the community.
Material and methods:
This was an exploratory qualitative study with 17 participants, comprising 9 pharmacists and 8 pharmacy assistants recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected from May to June 2020. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data on pharmacy workers’ perceptions regarding patient counselling provided by pharmacy assistants. Data analysis was performed thematically.
Results:
This is the first study to date to explore the perceptions of pharmacy workers regarding the role of patient counselling by pharmacy assistants. Pharmacy workers believed that modified patient counselling could be conducted by pharmacy assistants, taking into account the following 6 aspects: the use of the term counselling, content and context, duration of interactions with patients, competency of service providers, infrastructure, and training needs.
Conclusions:
To be accepted by stakeholders, patient counselling provided by pharmacy assistants should be modified to consider aspects of competence and supportive infrastructure.
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| eISSN: | 2300-6722 |
| ISSN: | 1899-1874 |
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