• English
    • العربية
  • العربية
  • Login
  • QU
  • QU Library
  •  Home
  • Communities & Collections
  • Help
    • Item Submission
    • Publisher policies
    • User guides
    • FAQs
  • About QSpace
    • Vision & Mission
    • QSpace policies
View Item 
  •   Qatar University Digital Hub
  • Qatar University Institutional Repository
  • Academic
  • Faculty Contributions
  • College of Pharmacy
  • Pharmacy Research
  • View Item
  • Qatar University Digital Hub
  • Qatar University Institutional Repository
  • Academic
  • Faculty Contributions
  • College of Pharmacy
  • Pharmacy Research
  • View Item
  •      
  •  
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Perspectives of clinical pharmacists on the provision of pharmaceutical care through telepharmacy services during COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar: A focus group

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Publisher version (You have accessOpen AccessIcon)
    Publisher version (Check access options)
    Check access options
    journal.pone.0275627.pdf (426.5Kb)
    Date
    2022
    Author
    Alhmoud, Eman
    Al Khiyami, Dania
    Barazi, Raja
    Saad, Mohammed
    Al-Omari, Ali
    Awaisu, Ahmed
    El Enany, Rasha
    Al Hail, Moza
    ...show more authors ...show less authors
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created unprecedented pressures on healthcare systems and led to the widespread adoption of telepharmacy services, a practice that was not previously established in the state of Qatar. Objective The -study aimed to explore clinical pharmacists' (CPs) perspectives and experiences in utilizing telepharmacy for the provision of pharmaceutical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A descriptive, qualitative approach using face-to-face focus group (FG) discussions was used. CPs across Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) were purposively invited to participate in the study. FG discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and validated. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Recruitment continued until a saturation point was achieved. Results We conducted five focus groups that included 23 CPs and led to seven themes. Overall, CPs reported inadequate preparedness for the practice of telepharmacy, which they perceived as challenging. The primary perceived benefits of telepharmacy were decreased infection exposure risk, improved quality of care, improved patients' satisfaction, and enhanced workplace efficiency and productivity. The main highlighted risks of telepharmacy were related to threatened patient confidentiality, missed pharmaceutical care opportunities, and negatively impacted professional rapport with other healthcare providers; and the major perceived challenges were low digital health literacy, complex illnesses and medication regimens, lack of standardized protocols, and inadequacy of resources and cultural resistance for virtual care. Participants recommended standardization and training, resource allocation, and proper service promotion as potential facilitators of telepharmacy practice. Conclusion The current study revealed that despite perceived barriers, pharmacists identified several benefits of telepharmacy and recommended potential facilitators that should be used to integrate and sustain the practice of telepharmacy in the future. Future studies should investigate the impact of telepharmacy on clinical pharmacy interventions and patient outcomes. Copyright: 2022 Alhmoud et al.
    DOI/handle
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275627
    http://hdl.handle.net/10576/37319
    Collections
    • COVID-19 Research [‎436‎ items ]
    • Pharmacy Research [‎820‎ items ]

    entitlement


    Qatar University Digital Hub is a digital collection operated and maintained by the Qatar University Library and supported by the ITS department

    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Contact Us | Send Feedback | QU

     

     

    Home

    Submit your QU affiliated work

    Browse

    All of Digital Hub
      Communities & Collections Publication Date Author Title Subject Type Language Publisher
    This Collection
      Publication Date Author Title Subject Type Language Publisher

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    About QSpace

    Vision & Mission QSpace policies

    Help

    Item Submission Publisher policiesUser guides FAQs

    Qatar University Digital Hub is a digital collection operated and maintained by the Qatar University Library and supported by the ITS department

    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Contact Us | Send Feedback | QU

     

     

    Video