TITLE:
Patient Perspectives of the Role of the Community Pharmacist in the Middle East: Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Iraq
AUTHORS:
Iman A. Basheti, Eyad A. Qunaibi, Salim A. Hamadi, Eman Abu-Gharbieh, Suhair Saleh, Salah AbuRuz, Mohammed Mohamoud, Nailya R. Bulatova
KEYWORDS:
Community Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Care, Outpatients, Health Care Professionals
JOURNAL NAME:
Pharmacology & Pharmacy,
Vol.5 No.6,
June
19,
2014
ABSTRACT: Objectives: To explore patient’s perspectives of the role of the
community pharmacist in view of other health care professionals (specialist
physician, general practitioner, nurse and others (e.g. herbalist)) in Jordan,
UAE and Iraq. The study also investigated patient’s willingness to pay for
specialized pharmaceutical care services. Methods: This study followed a single
phase cross sectional survey methodology, conducted in three Middle Eastern
countries. Data were collected over a period of 6 months on two consecutive
years (March to May 2009 and 2010). A questionnaire was designed and validated,
then completed by patients walking into community pharmacies. The source of
advice (specialist physician, general practitioner, pharmacist, nurse, or
herbalist) regarding patient’s medication use and medical management were
investigated. Key findings: Patients visiting community pharmacies in Jordan (n
= 1000), UAE (n = 1000) and Iraq (n = 968) were recruited into the study (mean
age 35.9 ± 13.1, 50.6% males). Significant difference between the three
countries was shown, as more patients chose the pharmacist as their primary
source of advice on medication use vs. the
specialist physician in Jordan (50.8% vs. 37.3%) and Iraq (41.9% vs.
36.7%) compared to UAE (38.0% vs. 40.1%), P