Ghozali Muhammad Thesa
Department of Pharmaceutical Management, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2024 Sep 26;16:100513. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100513. eCollection 2024 Dec.
The implementation of telepharmacy technology has expanded significantly, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure continuous pharmaceutical care services. This practice is vital in rural and underserved areas where access to healthcare is limited.
This study aims to assess the knowledge, perception, and readiness of young pharmacists in rural Indonesia towards telepharmacy-assisted pharmaceutical services.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to July 2023 in rural areas of Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan, Indonesia. A convenience sampling method was employed with the aim of recruiting 520 registered pharmacists under 35 years of age (23-34 years old). Data were collected using an online questionnaire adapted for the local context and analyzed using SPSS version 26.0.
The study achieved an 86.67 % response rate. Most participants were female (73.1 %) and aged between 26 and 30 years (53.8 %). Nearly all pharmacists (97.1 %) held a Pharm.D degree. The knowledge assessment showed high awareness of telepharmacy's importance and its role during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 96.15 % recognizing the need for a strong internet connection. Positive perception was noted, with 90.38 % agreeing that telepharmacy enhances medication access in rural areas. However, concerns about increased error rates and workload were highlighted. A substantial proportion of pharmacists expressed readiness for conducting drug counselling via video consultation (44.23 %) and showed a willingness to undergo relevant training (59.62 %).
Young pharmacists in rural Indonesia demonstrate a good level of knowledge and generally positive perceptions about telepharmacy, with notable readiness among pharmacists with less than five years of experience. While there is notable willingness to engage in telepharmacy practices and training, addressing concerns about workload and data security through targeted support and training will be crucial for the successful implementation of telepharmacy, potentially enhancing healthcare access in rural areas.
远程药学技术的应用显著扩大，尤其是在新冠疫情期间，以确保持续的药学服务。这种做法在医疗服务获取受限的农村和服务不足地区至关重要。
本研究旨在评估印度尼西亚农村地区年轻药剂师对远程药学辅助药学服务的知识、认知和准备情况。
2023年1月至7月在印度尼西亚爪哇、苏门答腊和加里曼丹的农村地区进行了一项横断面研究。采用便利抽样方法，旨在招募520名35岁以下（23 - 34岁）的注册药剂师。使用根据当地情况改编的在线问卷收集数据，并使用SPSS 26.0版本进行分析。
该研究的回复率为86.67%。大多数参与者为女性（73.1%），年龄在26至30岁之间（53.8%）。几乎所有药剂师（97.1%）拥有药学博士学位。知识评估显示，对远程药学在新冠疫情期间的重要性及其作用有较高认识，96.15%的人认识到需要强大的互联网连接。观察到积极的认知，90.38%的人同意远程药学改善了农村地区的药物获取。然而，对错误率增加和工作量的担忧也被凸显出来。相当一部分药剂师表示愿意通过视频咨询进行药物咨询（44.23%），并表示愿意接受相关培训（59.62%）。
印度尼西亚农村地区的年轻药剂师对远程药学表现出良好的知识水平和总体积极的认知，经验少于五年的药剂师有显著的准备意愿。虽然有参与远程药学实践和培训的显著意愿，但通过有针对性的支持和培训解决对工作量和数据安全的担忧对于远程药学的成功实施至关重要，这可能会改善农村地区的医疗服务获取。
