Dataset Information

Geospatial analysis of distribution of community pharmacies and other health care facilities providing minor ailments services in Malaysia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Minor ailments are defined as common, self-limiting, or uncomplicated conditions that may be diagnosed and managed without a medical intervention. Previous studies reported that pharmacists were able to help patients self-manage minor ailments that led to a reduction of health care burden in other facilities. Nevertheless, public access to community pharmacy and other health care facilities offering services for minor ailments has not yet been explored in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to determine population access to the above-mentioned services.

Method

According to the reported practice address in 2018, the spatial distribution of health care facilities was mapped and explored using the GIS mapping techniques. The density of health care facilities was analyzed using thematic maps with hot spot analysis. Population to facility ratio was calculated using the projection of the population growth based on 2010 census data, which was the latest available in the year of analysis.

Results

The study included geographical mapping of 7051 general practitioner clinics (GPC), 3084 community pharmacies (CP), 139 public general hospitals (GHs) and 990 public primary health clinics (PHC). The health care facilities were found to be highly dense in urban areas than in the rural ones. There were six districts that had no CP, 2 had no GPC, and 11 did not have both. The overall ratio of GPC, CP, GH, and PHC to the population was 1:4228, 1:10,200, 1:223,619 and 1:31,397, respectively. Should the coverage for minor ailment services in public health care clinics be extended to community pharmacies, the ratio of facilities to population for each district would be better with 1:4000-8000.

Conclusions

The distribution of health care facilities for minor ailment management in Malaysia is relatively good. However, if the scheme for minor ailments were available to community pharmacies, then the patients' access to minor ailments services would be further improved.

SUBMITTER: Tew MM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7903721 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Geospatial analysis of distribution of community pharmacies and other health care facilities providing minor ailments services in Malaysia.

Tew Mei Mei MM Hatah Ernieda E Arif Faiz F Abdul Wahid Muhammad Aqiff MA Makmor-Bakry Mohd M Abdul Maulad Khairul Nizam KN

Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice 20210224 1

<h4>Background</h4>Minor ailments are defined as common, self-limiting, or uncomplicated conditions that may be diagnosed and managed without a medical intervention. Previous studies reported that pharmacists were able to help patients self-manage minor ailments that led to a reduction of health care burden in other facilities. Nevertheless, public access to community pharmacy and other health care facilities offering services for minor ailments has not yet been explored in Malaysia. Hence, this ...[more]

PMID: 33627199

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Project description:BackgroundThe emergence of chronic diseases as major causes of disability and death has necessitated the introduction of new strategies to effectively address the ever-changing nature of public health problems. As a result, the role of community pharmacies in promoting public health is growing in recent years through the provision of extended pharmacy services. This study was conducted with the aim of assessing community's extent of use and approval of extended pharmacy services at community pharmacies in Bonga town, Southwest Ethiopia.Materials and methodsCommunity based cross-sectional study was conducted in Bonga town, Southwest Ethiopia, on households selected by systematic random sampling. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire. Data was collected by personally delivering questionnaires to respondents in selected households. Results of the study were described by frequency, mean and standard deviation (SD). Binary logistic analysis was performed to identify potential associations between dependent and independent variables.ResultsOut of 356 individuals included in the study, 58.4% recalled visiting community pharmacy premises during the previous six months. Out of these, 34.6% visited the community pharmacies to get extended pharmacy services. College educated participants were 19.4 times more likely to have used extended pharmacy services as compared to illiterate individuals whereas those who earn monthly income more than 5000 Ethiopian Birr were 3.6 times more likely than those with monthly income of 2000 Ethiopian Birr or less. Of the total participants, 91.3% approved the provision of extended pharmacy services in community pharmacies.ConclusionThe extent of community's use of extended pharmacy services at community pharmacies was found to be low. Nevertheless, majority of the study subjects approved the provision of extended pharmacy services at community pharmacies. Efforts to improve the practice of extended pharmacy service provision at community pharmacies should be made by all stake holders.

Dataset Information

Geospatial analysis of distribution of community pharmacies and other health care facilities providing minor ailments services in Malaysia.

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Geospatial analysis of distribution of community pharmacies and other health care facilities providing minor ailments services in Malaysia.

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