Motlohi Nthabiseng Florina, Mensah Kofi Boamah, Padayachee Neelaveni, Petrus Ruwayda, Alqifari Saleh F, Bangalee Varsha
Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
PLoS One. 2025 Feb 10;20(2):e0314487. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314487. eCollection 2025.
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality globally and impose suffering and economic difficulties, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Community pharmacists present an opportunity for effective prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases. The overarching aim of the study was to evaluate factors associated with the extent of involvement, barriers and facilitators, and perceptions of Lesotho community pharmacists in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases.
The study utilised a quantitative cross-sectional survey. A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to licensed community pharmacists across four districts between March and July 2023. Parametric and non-parametric tests were performed for data analysis using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26.
Apart from medicine dispensing, community pharmacists were mostly involved in hypertension (mean = 4.38±.73) and diabetes (mean = 4.17±.91) screening, weight management advice (mean = 3.81±.87), disease education (mean = 3.93±.83), medication management therapy (mean = 3.74±.99, 3.81±.88), referral of and follow up on patients (mean = 3.70±.98 and 3.87±.92). There was a significant association between the extent of involvement and pharmacy location, experience of community pharmacists, availability of tools, number of patients seen daily, and presence of other healthcare professionals at a community pharmacy (p<0.05). The most common barriers were related to patient factors (>75% agree to strongly agree), such as lack of awareness of community pharmacists' services. Community pharmacists possessed positive (mean >3) attitudes and perceptions regarding their role in cardiovascular disease management.
Besides dispensing medicine, community pharmacists had varying extent of involvement in health promotion activities. The provision of these services differed between socio-demographic groups. Community pharmacists possessed good knowledge, positive attitudes towards their cardiovascular disease management role. Thus, they can improve cardiovascular disease outcomes. However, the barriers potentially limit their scope of practice and encourage inconsistent community pharmacy services. The findings present pertinent information to policy-makers, regulators, and pharmacists that can inform the development of frameworks to improve clinical and pharmacy practice in Lesotho and low- and middle-income countries.
心血管疾病是全球主要的死亡原因，会带来痛苦和经济困难，在低收入和中等收入国家尤为如此。社区药剂师为有效预防和控制心血管疾病提供了契机。该研究的总体目标是评估与莱索托社区药剂师在预防和控制心血管疾病方面的参与程度、障碍和促进因素以及认知相关的因素。
该研究采用定量横断面调查。2023年3月至7月期间，向四个地区的持牌社区药剂师发放了一份半结构化问卷。使用社会科学统计软件包第26版进行参数和非参数检验以进行数据分析。
除了配药外，社区药剂师大多参与高血压（平均值=4.38±0.73）和糖尿病（平均值=4.17±0.91）筛查、体重管理建议（平均值=3.81±0.87）、疾病教育（平均值=3.93±0.83）、药物管理治疗（平均值=3.74±0.99，3.81±0.88）、患者转诊和随访（平均值=3.70±0.98和3.87±0.92）。参与程度与药房位置、社区药剂师的经验、工具可用性、每日看诊患者数量以及社区药房是否有其他医疗专业人员之间存在显著关联（p<0.05）。最常见的障碍与患者因素有关（超过75%同意或强烈同意），例如对社区药剂师服务缺乏认知。社区药剂师对其在心血管疾病管理中的作用持有积极（平均值>3）的态度和认知。
除了配药外，社区药剂师在健康促进活动中的参与程度各不相同。这些服务的提供在社会人口群体之间存在差异。社区药剂师具备良好的知识，对其在心血管疾病管理中的作用持有积极态度。因此，他们可以改善心血管疾病的治疗效果。然而，这些障碍可能会限制他们的执业范围，并导致社区药房服务不一致。研究结果为政策制定者、监管机构和药剂师提供了相关信息，可为制定框架以改善莱索托以及低收入和中等收入国家的临床和药房实践提供参考。
