Dataset Information

Qualitative exploration of perspectives of the pharmacists working in public-sector hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic, a serious global health threat, has excruciating social and economic implications given its transmissibility, lack of therapy, and severity. In such a situation, pharmacists as frontline healthcare professionals hold a significant position to tackle. This study was designed to explore the perception and preparedness of pharmacists working in public sector hospitals amid such a pandemic in Pakistan.

Methods

A total of 11 pharmacists were interviewed for this qualitative study design through a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Results

The thematic content analysis yielded six major themes; understanding of COVID-19, perceptions towards COVID-19, preventive aspects, management aspects, changes to lifestyle, and psychological aspects. Though efficient preparedness and approach to fighting against such pandemics were reported, pharmacists were found susceptible to infection and psychological stress. They also expressed lockdown as an effective measure to prevent the disease from spreading but still were concerned about its economic and social impact.

Conclusions

Adequate planning and facilities from the national level should be made available for strengthening the hospital pharmacy service that helps improve the overall healthcare system of low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan. The provision of a protective facility, incentives, and occupational health surveillance packages are deemed necessary to boost the self-esteem and morale of hospital pharmacists that safeguard the early and effective management of such disasters.

SUBMITTER: Khadka S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10022563 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Qualitative exploration of perspectives of the pharmacists working in public-sector hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic.

Khadka Sitaram S Saleem Mohammad M Usman Muhammad M Hashmi Furqan K FK Tariq Fatima F Zaheer Warda W Imon Sabahat S Inam Aqsa A Gupta Ravi Prasad RP Aryal Pallav P

Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice 20230317 1

<h4>Background</h4>The COVID-19 pandemic, a serious global health threat, has excruciating social and economic implications given its transmissibility, lack of therapy, and severity. In such a situation, pharmacists as frontline healthcare professionals hold a significant position to tackle. This study was designed to explore the perception and preparedness of pharmacists working in public sector hospitals amid such a pandemic in Pakistan.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 11 pharmacists were interviewe ...[more]

PMID: 36932458

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Project description:ObjectivesAnaesthesia delivery in Pakistan remains limited to conventional intraoperative procedures, with research showing ongoing challenges in quality and resourcing. We aimed to identify systemic challenges in the delivery of the WHO-World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists' (WHO-WFSA) 'highly recommended' standards of quality anaesthesia services for surgical support in Pakistan's Punjab province.Study design and settingThis single-method qualitative study included 22 semistructured interviews with purposively selected anaesthesia system experts in Punjab province, including heads of teaching hospital anaesthesia departments, healthcare commission (HCC) representatives and health department officials. We analysed data thematically, using deductive and inductive coding.Participants10 participants worked as anaesthesia department heads of teaching hospitals across Punjab, 5 worked for the HCC and 7 worked for the health department. All were selected purposively and had at least 5 years of experience working as head of department or serving in legislative departments.ResultsWe identified three themes experienced as major challenges within the specialty, namely anaesthetist recruitment and retention, quality of care and in-service training, and discrepancies between specialities. Findings indicated that workforce shortages and maldistribution, insufficient in-service training and standards, inadequate equipment maintenance and lack of anaesthesia representation in decision-making compromised anaesthesia provision quality and safety.ConclusionsImproving anaesthesia provision in Punjab would require increasing physician and non-physician anaesthetist numbers and rotation to peripheral postings, strengthening training quality and ensuring availability of WFSA-specified essential equipment and supplies. To achieve essential anaesthesia provision standards, policy interventions are needed to, for example, balance anaesthesiologist and surgeon/obstetrician-gynaecologist numbers, require that anaesthesiology postgraduates work a few years in-country (eg, scholarship bonds), ensure in-service training attendance for skills updates and implement quality assurance standards for equipment and supplies.

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Dataset Information

Qualitative exploration of perspectives of the pharmacists working in public-sector hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Qualitative exploration of perspectives of the pharmacists working in public-sector hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic.

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