Fehir Šola Katarina, Hrabač Pero, Religioni Urszula, Frančić Pranjković Ljubica, Merks Piotr
Pharmacy of Bjelovar, Bjelovar, Croatia, 43000 Bjelovar, Croatia.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Mar 21;13(7):693. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13070693.
Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals, playing a crucial role in public health. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many countries, including Croatia, have expanded the responsibilities of pharmacists. Since November 2021, Croatian pharmacists have been authorized to provide COVID-19 testing in community pharmacies. This study explores patients' perceptions of these pharmacy-based testing services. This study employed a quantitative research approach, utilizing a structured questionnaire as the primary data collection tool. The research was conducted between November 2021 and January 2022, with a total of 211 participants from diverse backgrounds. The findings demonstrate a highly positive perception of COVID-19 testing services in community pharmacies. A significant majority (95.2%) of patients found pharmacist-administered testing to be convenient. Additionally, 92.3% believed that pharmacists possess the necessary skills to perform the tests, and 94.7% expressed willingness to undergo testing in a pharmacy again. Notably, 94% of respondents indicated their intention to utilize pharmacists' services for future testing. Croatian patients exhibit a strong positive attitude towards pharmacist-led COVID-19 testing in community pharmacies. These findings highlight the pivotal role of pharmacists in enhancing healthcare accessibility and demonstrate the value of integrating pharmacy-based testing services into public health strategies. This study provides valuable insights into the evolving role of pharmacists in healthcare delivery.
药剂师是最容易接触到的医疗保健专业人员之一，在公共卫生中发挥着关键作用。为应对持续的新冠疫情，包括克罗地亚在内的许多国家都扩大了药剂师的职责。自2021年11月起，克罗地亚药剂师被授权在社区药房提供新冠病毒检测服务。本研究探讨了患者对这些基于药房的检测服务的看法。本研究采用定量研究方法，使用结构化问卷作为主要数据收集工具。研究于2021年11月至2022年1月进行，共有211名来自不同背景的参与者。研究结果表明，患者对社区药房的新冠病毒检测服务高度认可。绝大多数（95.2%）患者认为药剂师进行的检测很方便。此外，92.3%的患者认为药剂师具备进行检测所需的技能，94.7%的患者表示愿意再次在药房接受检测。值得注意的是，94%的受访者表示他们打算在未来检测时使用药剂师的服务。克罗地亚患者对社区药房由药剂师主导的新冠病毒检测表现出强烈的积极态度。这些发现凸显了药剂师在提高医疗可及性方面的关键作用，并证明了将基于药房的检测服务纳入公共卫生战略的价值。本研究为药剂师在医疗服务中不断演变的角色提供了有价值的见解。
