The role of community pharmacists in public health and public health related problems which they encounter

Authors : Çiğdem SAMANCI TEKİN
Pages : 142-148
View : 45 | Download : 15
Publication Date : 2020-08-27
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Background and Aims: This study was conducted in order to identify the role of community pharmacists in public health and the public health related problems which are encountered. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 87 community pharmacists answered a questionnaire form about sociodemographic characteristics, public health counseling roles and barriers. The data was summarized as mean ± standard deviation and percentage. Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical data. Results: 93.1% of the community pharmacists considered that they had an active role in the protection of public health, while the percentage of those who thought they were able to realized it was 78.2%. Limited authority insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(63.2%);, insufficient time and workload insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(52.6%); were the leading causes of ineffectivity of the pharmacists in public health. The causes that prevented receiving consultancy services were shame insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(64.4%);, the education level of the client insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(51.7%); and gender difference between the pharmacist and client insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(48.3%);. The pharmacists thought that their professional reputation should be improved in order to improve their consulting role insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(35%);. Conclusion: Although there are many occupational problems of pharmacists in Turkey, pharmacists voluntarily provide a consultacy service about many subjects for the protection of public health. Legal arrangements are needed to make pharmacies public health counseling centers.
Keywords : Pharmacists, Public health, Turkey, Pharmacy, Health promotion

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