What has changed in the pharmaceutical care after COVID-19: Pharmacists’ perspective

• Zelal Kharaba ^[2] ; Sedq A. Moutraji ^[3] ; Rama A. Al Khawaldeh ^[3] ; Yassen Alfoteih ^[1] ; Ahmad Z. Al Meslamani ^[2]
  1. [1] City University College of Ajman

     City University College of Ajman

     Emiratos Árabes Unidos

     
  2. [2] Department of Clinical Sciences, AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
  3. [3] Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu-Dhabi, UAE.

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• Localización: Pharmacy Practice (Granada), ISSN-e 1886-3655, Vol. 20, Nº. 2, 2022 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Apr-Jun)
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the impact of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the roles of hospital and community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to assess how COVID-19 has affected their roles concerning medication dispensing and review, patient education, and telepharmacy services.

    Methods: This was a face-to-face questionnaire-based study. A convenient sampling technique was used to collect responses from 428 licensed community and hospital pharmacists across the UAE. The study tool is a structured questionnaire. Data were cleaned and analysed through SPSS Version 26.

    Results: In terms of medication dispensing practice, 314 (73.4%) and 210 (49.1%) of pharmacists reported an increase in the dispensing of over the counter (OTC) medicines and antibiotics after COVID-19, respectively. Of the pharmacists included in the study, 380 (88.8%) and 328 (76.6%) reported an elevation in the engagement in patient education and medication review after COVID-19, respectively. On the other hand, 247 (57.7%) and 179 (41.8%) of pharmacists reported that the frequency of their pharmaceutical interventions and physicians’ acceptance of those interventions increased after COVID-19, which was significantly associated (p=0.01) with pharmacists’ ability to intervene on the dosage regimen of COVID-19 patient.

    Conclusion: Pharmaceutical care in the UAE has evolved after COVID-19, particularly in the aspects of medications dispensing, telepharmacy, and patient-centered services..