Barriers of community pharmacists in identification and referral of presumptive tuberculosis cases in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) still continues to be a major public health threat. Early diagnosis is the cornerstone in combating TB. Community pharmacists are the front line health care providers among the health care system. The present study aimed to identify the barriers of community pharmacists in the identification and referral of presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis cases.

METHODS

Prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted among the community pharmacists in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. One pharmacist from each pharmacy was interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. Knowledge component, practice and barriers of identification and referral in presumptive TB cases were captured.

RESULTS

A total of 143 pharmacists were included in the study. Barriers in identification and referral by pharmacists' perception were patient volume (32%), pharmacy workload (22%), difficulty in identifying the cases (16%), etc. Research team also identified few barriers such as pharmacists do not have adequate knowledge about TB (34%), pharmacists are not trained enough to identify and refer presumptive TB cases (26%), etc. All the pharmacists (100%) refer the presumptive TB cases, if they come across for OTC medications. Pharmacists also provided health education to their community (45.7%).

CONCLUSION

Adequate training of community pharmacists and a follow-up system for the presumptive TB cases identified by the community pharmacist are essential in reducing the barriers of pharmacists in TB case detection.