[Analysis of possibilities of pharmaceutical care elements implementation in Lithuanian community pharmacies].

OBJECTIVE

Objective of this survey--possibilities of implementation of pharmaceutical care elements in daily work of Lithuanian community pharmacies. All pharmacists have to ensure the best quality of pharmaceutical services which they render to their patients. Pharmacists also must improve the quality of pharmaceutical services, according to recommendations of pharmaceutical care. For a start they should implement at least separate elements of pharmaceutical care if they are going to provide pharmaceutical care services in their community pharmacies in the future. That's why this survey was designed to clarify the possibilities of implementation of separate pharmaceutical care elements in to daily work of community pharmacies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Material of this survey--pharmaceutical services rendered in Lithuanian community pharmacies. This survey has an analytical character and was accomplished with questionnaire. Chiefs of community pharmacies were asked to complete of questionnaire. We gave 150 questionnaires and received answers from 128 pharmacists.

RESULTS

After gathered data analysis we found out that only 2% of pharmacies are almost prepared and well equipped for provision of pharmaceutical care services; however, they still have to rearrange their facilities.

CONCLUSIONS

Lithuanian community pharmacies are not ready to work according to recommendations of pharmaceutical care today. Some elements of pharmaceutical care (such as blood pressure measurement, provision of written information for patient, etc.) are already implemented by almost all Lithuanian community pharmacies. If pharmacists want to provide pharmaceutical care services they should create a database of patient medication records in pharmacy. Unfortunately Lithuanian pharmacists do not have such databases today. Only with such databases there is a possibility to render pharmaceutical services of the best quality.