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. 2021 Mar;17(3):514-522.
doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.04.020. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Pharmacists' readiness to deal with the coronavirus pandemic: Assessing awareness and perception of roles

Iman A Basheti  1 , Razan Nassar  2 , Muna Barakat  3 , Rajaa Alqudah  4 , Rana Abufarha  5 , Tareq L Mukattash  6 , Bandana Saini  7
Affiliations

Pharmacists' readiness to deal with the coronavirus pandemic: Assessing awareness and perception of roles

Iman A Basheti et al. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Background: The 2019 Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) caused by a novel strain of coronavirus was detected in China in December 2019, and declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020. Community pharmacists have an important role in supporting the local health emergency preparedness and response arrangements.

Objectives: To investigate pharmacists and pharmacy students' awareness and source of their information regard the management of the coronavirus pandemic, and their perspective of their role during this emergent situation.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional online survey study was conducted in Jordan during the COVID-19 outbreak (from 15 to 30 March 2020). A validated online questionnaire addressing participants' current awareness about epidemics/pandemics and COVID-19, source of information and their perspectives of their role. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS).

Results: Participants (n = 726) had a mean age of 26.9 (8.0) years with 71.9% females. Pharmacy students made 35.3% of the sample while the rest were pharmacists. Only 54.3% of participants believed that they got enough education about epidemics/pandemics, and 94.6% of them follow on the latest coronavirus updates on treatments, and that is mainly from the media (59.5%) followed by the World Health Organization reports (58.7%) and then the published researches (57%). Awareness score (out of 20) of pharmacists (n = 470) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that of students (n = 256). Better Awareness scores were also associated with higher age of participants, graduating from a public versus a private university, and attending more educational workshops.

Conclusion: The majority of pharmacists and pharmacy students reported that they have a major role in the management of epidemics/pandemics through the community pharmacies but the majority follow on the latest coronavirus updates from the media. This fact rings bills considering the numerous conflicting messages publicized during the pandemic through the media.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Faculty of pharmacy; Jordan; Pandemics; Pharmaceutical association; Pharmacists.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study participants awareness about epidemics/pandemics and updates about coronavirus treatment (n = 726).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Sources of information about coronavirus treatment among the study participants (n = 726).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of the awareness scores (out of 20) between students (n = 256) and pharmacists (n = 470), (P-value <0.001 using independent sample t-test).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Study participants perceptions about their role to deal with epidemics/pandemics and coronavirus specifically (n = 726).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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