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AuthorAlhmoud, Eman
AuthorAl Khiyami, Dania
AuthorBarazi, Raja
AuthorSaad, Mohammed
AuthorAl-Omari, Ali
AuthorAwaisu, Ahmed
AuthorEl Enany, Rasha
AuthorAl Hail, Moza
Available date2022-12-15T07:16:23Z
Publication Date2022
Publication NamePLoS ONE
ResourceScopus
URIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275627
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/37319
AbstractBackground 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.
SponsorThe funder provided support in the form of salaries for authors [EA, DA, RB, MS, AO, RA, MA], but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the 'author contributions' section.
Languageen
PublisherPublic Library of Science
SubjectPharmaceutics
Allied health care professionals
Pharmacists
COVID 19
Pandemics
Medical risk factors
Telecommunications
Telemedicine
TitlePerspectives of clinical pharmacists on the provision of pharmaceutical care through telepharmacy services during COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar: A focus group
TypeArticle
Issue Number10
Volume Number17
dc.accessType Open Access


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