Journal
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
Volume 23, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
BMC
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09071-w
Keywords
Pharmacist; Pharmacy practice; COVID-19; Education; Emerging infectious diseases; Systematic review
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COVID-19 pandemic has required community pharmacists to adapt and expand their practice activities. A systematic review identified specific adaptations and expanded roles of community pharmacists in response to the pandemic. The most commonly reported adaptations include modifying hygiene behaviors (81.89%), maintaining social distance (76.37%), providing COVID-19 education (72.54%), and offering telemedicine and home delivery services (49.03% and 41.98%, respectively).
BackgroundCommunity pharmacists actively engage in managing the health of local residents, but the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated rapid adaptations in practice activities.ObjectivesWe sought to identify the specific adaptations in practice and the expanded roles of community pharmacists in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of published studies reporting the tasks of pharmacists in community pharmacies or who were involved in pharmacy practices addressing the pandemic. Two investigators independently searched PubMed (December 2019-January 2022) for eligible articles. We conducted a meta-analysis to measure the frequencies of practical activities by pharmacists in response to COVID-19.ResultsWe identified 30 eligible studies. Meta-analysis of these studies found that the most commonly reported adaptation in pharmacist practice activities was modifying hygiene behaviors, including regular cleaning and disinfection (81.89%), followed by maintaining social distance from staff and clients (76.37%). Educating clients on COVID-19 was reported by 22 studies (72.54%). Telemedicine and home delivery services were provided to clients by 49.03 and 41.98% of pharmacists, respectively.ConclusionsThe roles of community pharmacists in public health activities have adapted and expanded in response to COVID-19, notably by incorporating public health education activities.
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