Robert Agaba, Johnmark Ndinawe, Radiana Kabera Makuza, Haulat Kiiza, Ivan Segawa, Rajab Kalidi, Ebong Keren
Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, Pharmacum Care Uganda Project, Kampala, Uganda.
Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
J Pharm Policy Pract. 2024 Mar 11;17(1):2320282. doi: 10.1080/20523211.2024.2320282. eCollection 2024.
In Uganda, there is limited adoption of pharmaceutical care in hospitals due to pharmacist shortages and limited collaboration among healthcare professionals. Intern pharmacists are deployed annually to assist in patient care to address pharmacist shortages.
Evaluate intern pharmacist's extent of involvement in pharmaceutical care activities, assess facilitators and barriers, and explore healthcare professionals' perceptions, attitudes, and opinions on implementation of pharmaceutical care.
A mixed-method concurrent study was carried out for four months. We conducted an online survey among 107 intern pharmacists from 26 hospitals, including National Referral, Regional Referral, Private Not-For-Profit, and General hospitals; predictors of extent of involvement were identified using linear regression models, using STATA 14. 24 key informants (nurses, prescribers, pharmacists) from five hospitals were interviewed; themes were developed using a deductive thematic analysis approach.
Intern pharmacists had a median (Interquartile range[IQR]) age of 25 years (25-27) and 74.7% were male. About half (54.1%) of key informants were female and had a median (IQR) of 10 years (4.0-15.5) of professional experience. Interns focused on patient counseling, lacked documentation, and showed positive attitudes, and knowledge. Key informants supported implementation, but prescribers expressed dissatisfaction with interns' performance.
Enhancing pharmacy internship and training through developing policies and guidelines on pharmaceutical care practice, improving working conditions, and mentorship can address gaps impeding pharmaceutical care implementation by intern pharmacists.
在乌干达，由于药剂师短缺以及医疗保健专业人员之间协作有限，医院对药学服务的采用程度较低。每年都会部署实习药剂师来协助患者护理，以解决药剂师短缺问题。
评估实习药剂师参与药学服务活动的程度，评估促进因素和障碍，并探讨医疗保健专业人员对实施药学服务的看法、态度和意见。
进行了一项为期四个月的混合方法同步研究。我们对来自26家医院的107名实习药剂师进行了在线调查，这些医院包括国家转诊医院、地区转诊医院、私立非营利性医院和综合医院；使用STATA 14通过线性回归模型确定参与程度的预测因素。对来自五家医院的24名关键信息提供者（护士、开处方者、药剂师）进行了访谈；使用演绎主题分析方法确定主题。
实习药剂师的年龄中位数（四分位间距[IQR]）为25岁（25 - 27岁），74.7%为男性。约一半（54.1%）的关键信息提供者为女性，专业经验中位数（IQR）为10年（4.0 - 15.5年）。实习生专注于患者咨询，缺乏记录，态度积极且知识丰富。关键信息提供者支持实施，但开处方者对实习生的表现表示不满。
通过制定药学服务实践的政策和指南、改善工作条件以及提供指导来加强药学实习和培训，可以解决阻碍实习药剂师实施药学服务的差距。
