Readiness for Drug Information Service Provision in Community Pharmacies in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

This study was aimed at assessing the readiness for drug information service (DIS) provision at community pharmacies in Akwa Ibom state using a cross sectional, observational study approach. A pretested, validated questionnaire was adapted for the study. A total of 187 premises were enlisted for visits with questionnaires targeted at the superintendent pharmacists for desired responses. Response rate was 93.6%. Respondents were male (77, 44%) and female (98, 56%) with mean years of experience of respondents as 18.7 years. All respondents were aware of DIS terminologies and believed the concept to include enquiries on dosing (75%), side effects of drugs (99%), safety of drugs in cases such as pregnancy (79%), drug route of administration (80%), pill identification (66%) and substitutes to requested drugs (78%). Responses to limitations in discharging efficient DIS include non-trending service style (26%), premises requiring restructuring (26%), prohibitive setting up cost (17%) and non-availability of trained personnel (7%). At the time of this study, available resources for DIS in the premises included reference books (90%), periodicals (19%), and internet access through smart phones (60%). Secondary and tertiary sources of drug information were essentially relied on for DIS provision in the study area. There was significant association between socio-demographic characteristics such as age with readiness status (p<0.05). There was poor in-service training for effective DIS provision. Summarily, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the DIS approach across the state. There is need for improvement in facilities and resources for efficient discharge of DIS in the study area.

Satisfaction of drug information services implementation in Air Itam, Selindung, Girimaya, Gerunggang and Melintang health centre Pangkalpinang City

Aim: Previous studies have shown that the service quality of the pharmaceutical drug information service has not been optimally implemented. This problem also occurred in Pangkalpinang city. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a study on the satisfaction of drug information service implementation to improve the quality of pharmaceutical services. Aim: Examining the satisfaction of drug information service implementation in Air Itam, Selindung, Girimaya, Gerunggang, and Melintang health centres Pangkalpinang city. Method: This observational research was conducted from March to December 2018 in Air Itam, Selindung, Girimaya, Gerunggang, and Melintang health centres, Pangkalpinang city. It involved 150 patients selected by accidental sampling techniques, and the bivariate analyses were performed using the dependent t-test. Results: The quality of drug information service implementation in all dimensions was good, and there were significant differences in tangibility (p < 0.0001), reliability (p = 0.025), and empathy (p = 0.011). All respondents were quite satisfied with the drug information service implementation in all dimensions, with a significant difference in the dimensions of tangibility (p = 0.002), reliability (p = 0.045), and empathy (p = 0.045). Conclusion: All respondents were quite satisfied with the drug information service implementation in all dimensions.

Drug Information Service during Covid-19 Pandemic

Pharmacists and pharmaceutical personnel need to support improving the people’s quality of life during the covid-19 outbreak by providing pharmaceutical services, one of which is the Drug Information Service (PIO). Many regions in Indonesia, including DKI Jakarta, have placed large-scale social restrictions since March 2020. In connection with that, the Department of Pharmacy of Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia (PSFUAJ) organized an online PIO program. This program aimed to provide the service of Covid-19 drug-related information and education to the community. The PIO was carried out from April to July 2020 via whatsapp, email, and telephone. In addition, health education was provided through e-flyers, published on Instagram @pio_farmasi_uaj. Eighty percent of the questions were submitted via whatsapp, while the rest was sent via email. Most of the questions submitted (80%) were categorized into self-edication. Further examination shows that the common questions were related to drug choice (27.78%). These data indicate that most questioners tend to provide self-medication first and that they will only see a doctor if they have not recovered or experienced any improvement. PSFUAJ will continue running this program and disseminating this program to a broader audience.

GAMBARAN PELAYANAN FARMASI KLINIK DI APOTEK WILAYAH KOTA TANGERANG SELATAN CLINICAL PHARMACY SERVICE AT COMMUNITY PHARMACY IN SOUTH TANGERANG REGENCY

<p><strong><em>Background</em></strong><em> : Giving the drug information and counceling are parts of pharmacist clinical task as be stated in ministry of health statue number </em><em>35 </em><em>year</em><em> 2014 </em><em>on Pharmacy service standar in community pharmacy (Permenkes no 35 tahun 2017 tentang standar pelayanan kefarmasian di apotek). Through these tasks, pharmacist can inprove the patient therapy outcome. <strong>Aim :</strong></em><em> The purpose </em><em>o </em><em>this study was to descri</em><em>b</em><em>e the clinical service </em><em>of </em><em> drug information in </em><em>community </em><em>pharmacies </em><em>(CP) </em><em>at South Tangerang City. </em><strong><em>Methods </em></strong><em>: This was a descriptive-explorative study with survey technic. Sample were the 50 CPs and clinical pharmacy services were evaluated on their pharmacist who could be met at the visiting time. <strong>Results</strong> <strong>&amp; Conclusion</strong> : Thirty eight percent of pharmacists could be met at the visiting time. The highest percentage of drug information service is drug usage (</em><em>72,22%</em><em>) whereas the lowest are drug interaction and the way of its prevention i.e </em><em>5,55%</em><em>. </em><em> </em><em>The quality of pharmacy clinical service of drug information is </em><em>41,66% </em><em>and meet the bad criteria</em><em>. </em><em>The clinical pharmacy service of drug information in south Tangerang has not been run well and met the Pharmacy service standard yet.</em><em></em></p><p><strong> </strong><strong><em>Keywords:</em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong><em>drug information service, pharmacit, south tangerang, community pharmacy</em><em>.</em></p>

Evaluation of an appraisal regarding the establishment of Drug Information Service Center in the medical institution

Background: India has an exploding drug market in generic and brand name products with variable cost. Many doctors tend to rely on pharmaceutical representatives for their prescribing information. Now it is agreed that the major objectives of DISC are to provide a rational basis for choosing and using drugs skilfully to relieve patient’s ailments. This is becoming more and more important as the practicing doctors is now confronted with so called “newer drugs” at such a great pace that even a full- time pharmacologist sometimes finds it difficult to keep abreast of their merits and demerits. The DISC provides the knowledge of number of drugs for practical application while prescribing. To provide healthcare professionals and patients with immediate access to accurate, concise and unbiased information on drug therapy problems.Methods: This is randomized study is to be conducted to determine the opinions of doctors, medical students, nurses, patients, other non-medical staff and general public as a patient representation from our institute campus regarding necessity of drug information. They are provided written feedback forms to be filled. The drug information service center (DISC) routinely responds to queries/inquiries regarding various drug related information. A structured eleven points questionnaire containing both open and close ended questions is prepared for opinion poll in feed-back form.Results: Large majority of the health and non-health professionals of opinion poll are in favour of reforms &innovations. They also suggested their own suggestions regarding the refreshing the subjects.Conclusions: It is essential to create awareness of the services provided by the DISC among physician’s pharmacists, nurses and consumers so that they should come forward to utilize these services.