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Abstract

The aims of this study were to evaluate community pharmacists' views about their current role, main barriers to pharmaceutical care practice and their attitudes towards continuing education and providing some services. The study was a questionnaire based cross- sectional study that was conducted among community pharmacists in the West Bank between July 2013 and March 2014. Key findings: The questionnaire was completed by 295 out of the 300 pharmacists approached giving a response rate of (98.3%). The majority of pharmacists (205; 69.5%) stated that the community pharmacists do not practice the pharmaceutical care as it should be. All of the pharmacists said that they dispense medications and write instructions of use, 224 (76.0%) claimed that they ask about allergies, 218 (74.0%) confirmed that they review the appropriateness of the doses, 200 (68.0%) said that they take medical and disease history. The majority of the pharmacists 275 (93.2%) were willing to participate in pharmaceutical care practice. The main reported barriers to practice pharmaceutical care were the poor cooperation from the patients (215; 73%), and physicians (180; 61%), having no enough time (177; 60%), and low salaries (153; 52%). The majority 92.5% (273 pharmacists) were willing to participate in continuing education activities. The majority of community pharmacists believe that they do not do their role in Palestine as it should be. Dispensing of prescriptions is the primary focus of community pharmacists. The community pharmacists have positive attitude towards pharmaceutical care and continuing education. Efforts are needed to overcome barriers.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.59049/2790-0231.1047

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