COVID-19 and Role of Pharmacists: Knowledge and Perceptions of Pharmacists from Iraq and Syria
Main Article Content
Keywords
Coronavirus, Pandemics, Pharmacists, Pharmaceutical associations;, Syria, Iraq
Abstract
Objectives: To assess pharmacists from Syria and Iraq on their knowledge, readiness, and perspectives on their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to investigate pharmacists’ perceived barriers towards delivering their emergency roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and perceived policymakers’ responsibilities. Methods: This cross-sectional study design was conducted in Iraq and Syria during COVID-19 outbreak over one month (April 2020). The study objectives were addressed through a validated online questionnaire. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS). Results: A total of 916 individuals participated in this study (447 from Iraq and 439 from Syria). Most of Iraqi participants were students while most of Syrian participants were graduates and technicians. The mean age for the Iraqi participants was 22.5 (SD= 4.1) while the mean age for the Syrian participants was 28.7 (SD= 9.1). A significant difference (p< 0.001) was found in following the latest coronavirus updates on management among pharmacy graduates and technicians and undergraduate students. Media was reported as the most used source for knowledge about epidemics/ pandemics among the Iraqi and the Syrian participants. Around 72% strongly agreed/agreed that the faculties of pharmacy have a role in preparing them to deal with epidemics/pandemics. In addition, 64.3% strongly agreed/agreed that pharmacist associations and societies have a role in preparing them to deal with epidemics/pandemics such as the coronavirus. Moreover, 82.9% believed that pharmacists should receive training programs on how to provide mental health support for people during epidemic and pandemic outbreaks. Conclusion: Tertiary pharmacy education providers and pharmacy professional bodies have a strong role in preparing pharmacists to deal with pandemics. Therefore, the importance of providing beforehand training programs on epidemics/pandemics management, workshops, lectures, and online information resources for such circumstances is crucial for pharmacists.
References
2. Bai Y, Yao L, Wei T, et al. Presumed asymptomatic carrier transmission of COVID-19. Jama. 2020;323(14):1406-7. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2565
3. WHO. Coronavirus. World Health Organization. 2020.
4. CDC. United States Centers for disease control and prevention Coronavirus(COVID-19)-Situation summary. 2020.
5. WHO. World Health Organization. Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.
6. Dong E, Du H, Gardner L. An interactive web-based dashboard to track COVID-19 in real time. The Lancet infectious diseases.2020;20(5):533-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30120-1
7. Gharibah M, Mehchy Z. COVID-19 pandemic: Syria’s response and healthcare capacity. 2020.
8. WHO. WHO Iraq Health profile https://rho.emro.who.int/sites/default/files/Profiles-briefs-files/EMROPUB_EN_19621_IRQ.pdf.
9. Government KR. Covid-19 situation update in Iraqi Kurdistan URL: gov.krd/coronavirus-en. 2020.
10. Iraq’s Karbala imposes curfew to curb coronavirus URL: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/iraqskarbala-imposes-curfew-to-curb-coronavirus/1766846. 2020.
11. Iraq suspends flights to and from Baghdad airport over coronavirus fears URL: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-healthcoronavirus-iraq-flights-idUSKBN212148. 2020.
12. Government KR. KRG takes action to prevent coronavirus outbreak in Kurdistan | Kurdistan Regional Government URL:https://gov.krd/english/news-and-announcements/posts/2020/february/krg-takes-action-to-prevent-coronavirus-outbreakin-kurdistan/.
13. Al-Quteimat OMMB, Amer AMRM. SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: How can pharmacists help? Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP. 2020:S1551-7411(20):30238-2.
14. Basheti IA, Nassar R, Barakat M, et al. Pharmacists’ perceived barriers towards delivering their emergency roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and perceived policymakers’ responsibilities. Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice. 2020;13:62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-020-00254-y
15. Cadogan CA, Hughes CMJRiS. Pharmacy A. On the frontline against COVID-19: Community pharmacists’ contribution during a public health crisis. 2020.
16. Basheti IA, Nassar R, Barakat M, et al. Pharmacists’ readiness to deal with the coronavirus pandemic: Assessing awareness and perception of roles. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2021;23(20):30418-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.04.020
17. Basheti I, Nassar R, Barakat M, et al. Pharmacists’ perceived barriers towards delivering their emergency roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and perceived policymakers’ responsibilities. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-020-00254-y
18. Hedima EW, Adeyemi MS, Ikunaiye NYJRiS. Pharmacy A. Community pharmacists: On the frontline of health service against COVID-19. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.04.017
19. Sheppard J, Thomas CB. Community pharmacists and communication in the time of COVID-19: applying the health belief model. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. 2020.
20. Australia TPGo. Available at https://www.guild.org.au/resources/business-operations/covid-19/covid-19-pharmacy-services. 2021
21. Servick K. COVID-19 contact tracing apps are coming to a phone near you. how will we know whether they work? Science. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abc9379
22. Jalabneh R, Zehra Syed H, Pillai S, et al. Use of Mobile Phone Apps for Contact Tracing to Control the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review. Anwarul, Use of Mobile Phone Apps for Contact Tracing to Control the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review. 2020.
23. Zheng S-q, Yang L, Zhou P-x, et al. Recommendations and guidance for providing pharmaceutical care services during COVID-19 pandemic: a China perspective. Research in social and administrative pharmacy. 2020.
24. Greenhalgh T, Wherton J, Shaw S, et al. Video consultations for covid-19. British Medical Journal Publishing Group; 2020.
25. Liu S, Yang L, Zhang C, et al. Online mental health services in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(4):e17-e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30077-8
26. Hollander JE, Carr BG. Virtually perfect? Telemedicine for COVID-19. New England Journal of Medicine. 2020;382(18):1679-81. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmp2003539
27. Federation IP. Coronavirus/COVID-19 preparedness. 2020.
28. Association CP. CORONAVIRUS SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION: Expert Consensus on guidance and prevention strategies for hospital pharmacists and the pharmacy workforce (2nd edition) [EB/OL]. 2020.
29. Association AP. Pharmacists’ Guide to Coronavirus. Available at: https://www.pharmacist.com/coronavirus. 2020.
30. Aruru M, Truong H-A, Clark SJRiS. Pharmacy A. Pharmacy Emergency Preparedness and Response (PEPR) framework for expanding pharmacy professionals’ roles and contributions to emergency preparedness and response during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. 2020.
31. Chen Y, Liu Q, Guo D. Emerging coronaviruses: genome structure, replication, and pathogenesis. Journal of medical virology. 2020;92(4):418-23. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25681
32. Lima C, Carvalho PdM, Lima IJM, et al. The emotional impact of Coronavirus 2019-nCoV (new Coronavirus disease). Psychiatry research. 2020;287:112915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112915
33. Walton M, Murray E, Christian MDJEHJACC. Mental health care for medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020:2048872620922795. https://doi.org/10.1177/2048872620922795
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.