Abstract

DOCTORS’ PERCEPTIONS ON COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS EXPANDED ROLES IN SUDAN

Adil Abd Elrahman Mahmoud, Sumia Sir-Elkhatim Mohamed, Abdulazim Ahmed Ali

ABSTRACT

Background: Doctors’ perceptions about extended services to be provided by community pharmacists is the first step in building a team work process based on consensus between the two professions. Objectives:To investigate community pharmacists-doctors relationship and doctors’ perceptions about extended services to be provided by community pharmacists. Setting: The three main teaching hospitals in Khartoum state (Omdurman, Khartoum and Bahari). Method: A structured self-administered, pre-piloted questionnaire was distributed to medical officers and consultants in the three main teaching hospitals. The questionnaire consisted of six sections: demographic profile, contact and communication, attitude towards extended services, perceptions on pharmaceutical care practice, negative experiences and a final openended section for participants’comments. Attitude responses were measured by a 5-point Likert-type scale and descriptive statistical analysis was used. Main outcome measures: Current relationship between community pharmacists and doctors, and the attitudes of doctors regarding new services to be provided by community pharmacists. Results: Response rate was 65.6%. Respondents were mainly medical officers aged 31 – 40 years. Direct visit was cited as the main method of contact between doctors and community pharmacists, followed by the telephone as a second preference.Reasons for contact were mainly for checking availability of medicines,and obtaining scientific information about medicines. Extended services mostly favored by doctors were: team work management of chronic diseases , follow-up of compliance and adherence to drug regimens in long-term conditions,health promotion, and advice on drug abuse/misuse.Screening tests received low profile of acceptance. There was an overall positive response towards pharmaceutical care application. The majority of respondents (81.3%) considered pharmaceutical care will augment their role in patient care. However, 45% of the doctors faced negative experiences with community pharmacists. Conclusion: Communication and contact between Sudanese doctors and community pharmacists is considered acceptable. However, it could be further improved by joined programs and orientation of doctors regarding the type of expertise obtained by community pharmacists. Sudanese doctors accepted extended services related to medicines and showed low acceptance for screening services.Models of practice need to be tried before implementation of new services. Impact of findings on practice 1. Sudanese doctors accepted some organized extended roles for community pharmacists, and community pharmacists should be prepared for this by proper training. 2. Inter-professional barriers between doctors and community pharmacists should be solved by different means as joined programs.

Keywords: Community Pharmacy, Doctors’pereptions, Expanded roles, Sudan.