Perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients on the role of the pharmacist in TB management in Pakistan: A qualitative study
Background: Globally, tuberculosis (TB) is the second major cause of death from infectious diseases, particularly in developing countries. A multidisciplinary approach to the management of TB may help to curb the disease burden.Objective: The objective of this study was to outline the perceptions of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.965806/full |
| _version_ | 1828163154930040832 |
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| author | Muhammad Atif Kiran Munir Iram Malik Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi Irem Mushtaq Nafees Ahmad |
| author_facet | Muhammad Atif Kiran Munir Iram Malik Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi Irem Mushtaq Nafees Ahmad |
| author_sort | Muhammad Atif |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Globally, tuberculosis (TB) is the second major cause of death from infectious diseases, particularly in developing countries. A multidisciplinary approach to the management of TB may help to curb the disease burden.Objective: The objective of this study was to outline the perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients regarding the potential role of pharmacists in TB management in Pakistan.Method: This was a large-scale qualitative study conducted at the Chest Disease Unit (CDU) of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH), Punjab, Pakistan. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with physicians, pharmacists, and patients recruited using a mix of convenient and snowball sampling. The sample size was decided through standard saturation point criteria. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed to draw conclusions using a thematic analysis approach.Results: Analysis of the data yielded 19 categories and seven themes. Physicians considered pharmacists qualified healthcare professionals, whereas patients considered them merely dispensers. Inventory management and dispensing of medicines were considered as major responsibilities of pharmacists. Physicians were extremely overburdened and wanted to delegate certain duties to pharmacists, subject to their prior extensive trainings. However, most of the physicians were unaware of the legal scope of pharmacy practice in Pakistan. With regard to the potential duties of pharmacists, physicians, pharmacists, and patients (patients—upon explaining the potential roles during the interview) endorsed monitoring, counseling, medicine brand selection, dose adjustment, inventory management, dispensing, and polypharmacy assessment as their potential roles. In view of all stakeholders, the rationale for integrating pharmacists in TB management included overburdened physicians, sub-standard patient care, medication safety issues, and patient dissatisfaction. The healthcare professionals highlighted that the major barriers to integrating pharmacists within the TB management system were limited interest of regulatory authorities and policy makers, followed by inadequate training and experience-driven questionable competency of pharmacists.Conclusion: The study participants acknowledged the potential role of pharmacists in TB management. However, it was emphasized that healthcare policy makers should devise strategies to overcome the underlying barriers before assigning medicine-related clinical roles to pharmacists. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:06:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-70034927c4a34bde826e070d43cb58ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:06:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj.art-70034927c4a34bde826e070d43cb58ff2022-12-22T03:54:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122022-12-011310.3389/fphar.2022.965806965806Perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients on the role of the pharmacist in TB management in Pakistan: A qualitative studyMuhammad Atif0Kiran Munir1Iram Malik2Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi3Irem Mushtaq4Nafees Ahmad5Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, PakistanDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, PakistanDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, PakistanDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology of Fujairah, Fujairah, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Education, Faculty of Education, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, PakistanDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of Baluchistan, Quetta, PakistanBackground: Globally, tuberculosis (TB) is the second major cause of death from infectious diseases, particularly in developing countries. A multidisciplinary approach to the management of TB may help to curb the disease burden.Objective: The objective of this study was to outline the perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients regarding the potential role of pharmacists in TB management in Pakistan.Method: This was a large-scale qualitative study conducted at the Chest Disease Unit (CDU) of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH), Punjab, Pakistan. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with physicians, pharmacists, and patients recruited using a mix of convenient and snowball sampling. The sample size was decided through standard saturation point criteria. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed to draw conclusions using a thematic analysis approach.Results: Analysis of the data yielded 19 categories and seven themes. Physicians considered pharmacists qualified healthcare professionals, whereas patients considered them merely dispensers. Inventory management and dispensing of medicines were considered as major responsibilities of pharmacists. Physicians were extremely overburdened and wanted to delegate certain duties to pharmacists, subject to their prior extensive trainings. However, most of the physicians were unaware of the legal scope of pharmacy practice in Pakistan. With regard to the potential duties of pharmacists, physicians, pharmacists, and patients (patients—upon explaining the potential roles during the interview) endorsed monitoring, counseling, medicine brand selection, dose adjustment, inventory management, dispensing, and polypharmacy assessment as their potential roles. In view of all stakeholders, the rationale for integrating pharmacists in TB management included overburdened physicians, sub-standard patient care, medication safety issues, and patient dissatisfaction. The healthcare professionals highlighted that the major barriers to integrating pharmacists within the TB management system were limited interest of regulatory authorities and policy makers, followed by inadequate training and experience-driven questionable competency of pharmacists.Conclusion: The study participants acknowledged the potential role of pharmacists in TB management. However, it was emphasized that healthcare policy makers should devise strategies to overcome the underlying barriers before assigning medicine-related clinical roles to pharmacists.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.965806/fullpharmacisttuberculosis managementmultidisciplinary approachpatient centered careNational Tuberculosis Control Program of PakistanPakistan |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Atif Kiran Munir Iram Malik Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi Irem Mushtaq Nafees Ahmad Perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients on the role of the pharmacist in TB management in Pakistan: A qualitative study Frontiers in Pharmacology pharmacist tuberculosis management multidisciplinary approach patient centered care National Tuberculosis Control Program of Pakistan Pakistan |
| title | Perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients on the role of the pharmacist in TB management in Pakistan: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients on the role of the pharmacist in TB management in Pakistan: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients on the role of the pharmacist in TB management in Pakistan: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients on the role of the pharmacist in TB management in Pakistan: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients on the role of the pharmacist in TB management in Pakistan: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients on the role of the pharmacist in tb management in pakistan a qualitative study |
| topic | pharmacist tuberculosis management multidisciplinary approach patient centered care National Tuberculosis Control Program of Pakistan Pakistan |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.965806/full |
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