RESUMEN
This is a preliminary study to evaluate the role of pharmacist in patient counseling in UAE community pharmacies. A group of five second year students conducted a survey of pharmaceutical consultation carried out in 40 community pharmacies in Ajman and Sharjah /UAE. Forty pharmacists participated in this survey, 24 males and 16 females, 85% were under 40 years and 15% over 40 years. The pharmacists were asked about the type of inquiries from patients and doctors, and also the number of such inquiries per month. 39% of the participants receive inquiries from patients and 61% not receive any inquires. 70% of patients inquiries is regarding drug prescribing and dispensing for a particular case; 50% for dose recommendation; 10% for adverse effect; 10% for drug interaction and 10% for diets to be taken with certain diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cholesterolemia. The number of inquiries received from doctors about drugs, 51% of participant pharmacists received inquiries from doctors. 51% of the inquiries are regarding drug dose, 28% for drug mode of action and ingredients, 25% for drug interaction. Pharmacists should be well versed with the recent trends in drug therapy, the dosage forms, dosage adverse effects and interactions. The health authorities must seriously think of setting up a drug information center either alone or in collaboration with other teaching institutions/universities with a free access to all the registered pharmacists and pharmacy students
RESUMEN
This study was conducted to evaluate pharmacist opinions on patient counseling by using product information leaflet [PIL] or customer product information [CPI]. The study was carried out in 40 community pharmacies that were distributed among Sharjah and Ajman. Forty pharmacists participated in this study, 59% male and 41% female, with the age <40 years [34 pharmacists] and >40 [6 pharmacists] or 85% less than forty years and 15% more than forty, as shown in figure 1 and agure 2. The study is based on a questionnaire with 12 questions and pharmacists feedback recorded as Agree, Disagree and Neither Agree nor Disagree. 92% of the pharmacists agree that patient counseling is their professional responsibility with male response rate of 92% and female of 38%. 88% agree that the use of CPI or PIL will ease their counseling task-male response was 83% compared with 37% for female. 60% agree that the customers will experience medication side effects when they are given CPI, with 63% of males giving a positive response compared to 23% for female responses. Regarding effective counseling 68% of the participants agree about training requirements for pharmacist while 5% disagree and 8% neither agree nor disagree: male positive response was 75% against 23% for female. On financial profit of counseling, 46% of the pharmacists agree that they should be paid for counseling and 31% disagree and 23% neither agree nor disagree. While 50% of the pharmacists agree that counseling improve their sales. As a professional, it is the pharmacist's responsibility to make patient safety a priority. Communicating with patients is an important way to avoid medication errors and to help patients understand the intended effects as well as the side effects of their drugs. Studies have shown that the professional expertise provided by a pharmacist during counseling can save money, unnecessary hospitalization, and in some cases, prevent patient harm/death