- Understanding the Impact of Community Pharmacies on Public Health
- Community Pharmacies at the Forefront of Preventive Healthcare
- The Accessibility and Trust Challenges in Pharmacy Services
- Community Pharmacies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Evolving Roles and Patient Satisfaction in Malaysian Pharmacies
- Reinforcing the Pillars of Public Health through Community Pharmacies
- References
Understanding the Impact of Community Pharmacies on Public Health
The article “The Crucial Role of Community Pharmacies in Public Health: An Informative Analysis”
seeks to delve into the vital role that community pharmacies play in public health promotion and
prevention of noncommunicable diseases (Kleiner et al., 2022). Drawing on a study that explored the
effectiveness and feasibility of a health planning program in Hungarian community pharmacies (Kleiner
et al., 2022), it will highlight the day-to-day activities of pharmacies that are key to supporting public
health. The article will also shed light on various case studies that echo the pivotal role of community
pharmacies, scrutinize challenges confronted in healthcare services, and reflect on their future
trajectory in public health.
The Everyday Impact: Community Pharmacies at the Forefront of Preventive Healthcare
Community pharmacies have a profound effect on public health, serving as active contributors to assessing, developing, and assuring healthcare measures in their respective communities (DiPietro Mager, 2021). Daily activities of community pharmacists include patient care which, through education and disease management, significantly improves public health at the micro level. For instance, pharmacists provide primary, secondary, and tertiary preventive activities that include inhibiting disease development, identifying early-stage disease, and slowing diagnosed disease progression respectively (DiPietro Mager, 2021). These preventive services comprise collaborative medication management and medication therapy management, tools made possible by collaborative practice agreements and provider status. Additionally, pharmacists play a key role in the development of new pharmacy services tailored to the specific health needs in their communities. Their contributions to service implementation, from resource allocation to evaluation, are integral to effective health service delivery (DiPietro Mager, 2021). Equally important is the pharmacy’s role in facilitating referrals, bridging diverse healthcare providers, public health agencies, and community organizations. Thus, the myriad activities of community pharmacies together form a comprehensive and concerted effort towards public health improvement (DiPietro Mager, 2021).
The Accessibility and Trust Challenges in Pharmacy Services
A pertinent example underscoring the vital function of community pharmacies emerges from a recent study conducted in the regions of Armenia and Yerevan amidst the COVID-19 pandemic (Nazaryan, Barseghyan, & Simonyan, 2023). Surveying nearly 400 consumers, Nazaryan et al. (2023) found that consumers often consider pharmacies as their primary source of credible information, given the ease of access. However, the research unearthed troubling statistics revealing that only 17% of consumers were consulted by pharmacy employees, and merely 29% could express satisfaction with the employees’ responses, with only 26% placing their full trust in these medical professionals. These findings indicate that while pharmacies do act as accessible points of medical counsel, there is a pressing need to reinforce the consumers’ trust and equip pharmacists with advanced professional knowledge to mitigate self-medication errors. The study further advocates for the development of comprehensive pharmaceutical care solutions, such as formulating specific care algorithms for minor ailments and establishing national emergency drug guidelines designed for public health emergencies such as COVID-19. Thus, Nazaryan et al.’s (2023) study stands as testament to the critical position pharmacies occupy in public health infrastructure, especially in time of crises.
Community Pharmacies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Community pharmacies have encountered a unique set of challenges in delivering healthcare services, particularly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Beam et al. (2023) details how the pandemic has vastly changed the landscape of pharmacy practice, with services rapidly expanding to encompass areas such as administering vaccines and conducting medical research. This research showcases the efforts made in leveraging community pharmacies to gather genetic data for the study of COVID-19 infectivity and severity. Notably, logistic and technical barriers posed challenges in executing such serology-based research in the pharmacy setting (Beam et al., 2023). Although this study exhibited a promising 42.5% recruitment rate for participants, a smaller sample size due to limitations of a single pharmacy’s geographic radius made it evident that a broader, more diverse patient demographic is needed for more robust findings (Beam et al., 2023). The challenges faced by community pharmacies underscore their role in influencing public health outcomes. Their ability to connect with a large population allows for potential in advancing clinical research, highlighting the integral role pharmacists can potentially play in wider public health efforts, provided necessary infrastructural and logistical impediments are addressed (Beam et al., 2023).
Evolving Roles and Patient Satisfaction
Community pharmacies, particularly those in public health clinics in Malaysia, have demonstrated an adaptability to expanded roles, implementing patient-centred pharmaceutical care services and working in tandem with other healthcare professionals for optimized healthcare delivery (Ismail, Gan, & Ahmad, 2020). Evidently, they have embraced a proactive approach to increasing patient satisfaction, a primary barometer for quality healthcare. Ismail et al. (2020) have highlighted this growing transition in Malaysia, through the development of a new questionnaire for gauging patient satisfaction. Findings show a relatively high level of satisfaction, with specific groups exhibiting varied responses to pharmacy services, including those aged, lesser-educated, and of Indian and Chinese ethnicity (Ismail et al., 2020). These findings provide vital insights for future growth and development of community pharmacies. The study offers the prospect of a refined focus on elderly patients, first-time visitors, patients who perceive themselves in a poor health status, and those with less general knowledge of pharmacists, given that these factors were associated with distinct patient satisfaction scores. Hence, the future of community pharmacies in public health is geared toward addressing these challenges while maintaining a commitment to quality patient-centred care.
Reinforcing the Pillars of Public Health through Community Pharmacies
In conclusion, the indispensable role of community pharmacies in the landscape of public health cannot be overstated. Through a plethora of studies and diverse case examples, the importance of these institutions in disease prevention, health promotion, and patient education has become resoundingly clear. Despite facing an array of challenges, particularly those exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacies have shown remarkable resilience and adaptability. Even as logistical and infrastructure impediments have occasionally hampered their efforts, their ability to connect with patients and their potential to contribute significantly to clinical research and disaster response remain potent. Going forward, the impetus lies upon bolstering the professional knowledge of pharmacists, enhancing the trust of consumers, and mitigating the barriers to accessing full-fledged healthcare. Furthermore, with patient satisfaction emerging as a critical metric for gauging service effectiveness, tailoring pharmaceutical care to meet the specific needs of diverse groups within communities is paramount. Community pharmacies are poised not only to continue their foundational role in public health but to expand their influence through innovation and collaboration. By doing so, they will undeniably cement their role as pillars of public health, integral to achieving comprehensive healthcare outcomes for all segments of society.
References
Beam, T. A., Klepser, D. G., Klepser, M. E., Bright, D. R., Klepser, N., Schuring, H., Wheeler, S., &
Langerveld, A. (2023). COVID-19 host genetic risk study conducted at community pharmacies:
Implications for public health, research and pharmacists’ scope of practice. Research in social &
administrative pharmacy : RSAP, 19(10), 1360–1364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2023.06.003
DiPietro Mager N. (2021). Expanding Pharmacy Services to Support Public Health. Innovations in
pharmacy, 12(4), 10.24926/iip.v12i4.4370. https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v12i4.4370
Ismail, A., Gan, Y. N., & Ahmad, N. (2020). Factors associated with patient satisfaction towards
pharmacy services among out-patients attending public health clinics: Questionnaire development and
its application. PloS one, 15(11), e0241082. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241082
Kleiner, D., Somogyi, O., Petlickij, F. H., Meskó, A., Szilvay, A., Zelkó, R., & Hankó, B. (2022).
Implementation of a personal health planning program and health promotion in the community
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Nazaryan, L., Barseghyan, A., & Simonyan, M. H. (2023). EPH44 On the Frontline Against COVID-19:
Provision of Community Pharmacy Services during a Public Health Crises. Value in Health, 26(6),
S172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2023.03.92