Do Professional Practices among Malaysian Private Healthcare Providers Differ? A Comparative Study using Simulated Patients
Background: Malaysia, a South East Asian country, legally permits general medical practitioners in private clinics to dispense medicines. This possibly can dilute the pharmacist role in the provision of healthcare and pharmaceutical care and deprive patients to benefit from these services. Obje...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2013-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/3789/71-%206198_E(C)_F(T)_PF1(VPP)_PFA(H)_PFA(RP).pdf |
| Summary: | Background: Malaysia, a South East Asian country, legally
permits general medical practitioners in private clinics to dispense
medicines. This possibly can dilute the pharmacist role in the
provision of healthcare and pharmaceutical care and deprive
patients to benefit from these services.
Objective: This study explored, assessed and compared the
current status of medicines labeling, patient’s counseling, and
symptomatic diagnosis by general practitioners and community
pharmacists.
Material and Methods: This study used trained Simulated
Patients (SP), who participated in a scenario of common cold
symptoms at private clinics and community pharmacies.
SPs explored medication labeling, patients counseling and
symptomatic diagnosis undertaken by general practitioners and
community pharmacists. Later, study authors assessed and
compared these practices. The study was conducted during
June 2011 in Penang, Malaysia.
Results: The study used descriptive statistics and Fisher-exact
test to analyze data. Regarding patients counseling standard,
among 100 visits by simulated patients, 64 (64%) from community
pharmacists provided information about the medicine name, its
indication, dosage and route of administration versus 17 (42.5%)
general practitioners during 40 visits (p=0.024). Concerning
adherence to labeling standard, for instance, only in one pharmacy
visit, (1%) the pharmacist wrote the name of the patient on the
medication label versus in 32 (80%) of doctors’ visits, the doctors
adhered to this labeling standard (p<0.001). In all doctors’ visits
(n=40, 100%), SPs were asked about symptoms, whereas in 87
(87%) CPs’ visits, pharmacists fulfilled this counseling standard
(p=0.02).
Conclusion: Although pharmacists showed less compliance
to medicine labeling and symptomatic diagnosis compared to
doctors, their counseling of patients was better. Separation will
definitely contribute to more concentration of each provider on
his/her roles and improve and direct the experiences and skills
towards being more patient oriented. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |