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Community pharmacists’ opinions and practice of pharmaceutical care at chain pharmacy and independent pharmacy in China

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Abstract

Background Whether Chinese community pharmacists in chain pharmacies and independent pharmacies provide the same type and quality of pharmaceutical care has not been fully investigated. Objective This study aimed to investigate community pharmacists’ understanding, attitude, practice and perceived barriers of pharmaceutical care at chain pharmacies and independent pharmacies in China. Setting Community pharmacies in China. Method A questionnaire survey was conducted in 27 provinces (autonomous regions) and 4 municipality cities in China. Main outcome measure Chinese community pharmacists’ understanding, attitude, practice and perceived barriers of pharmaceutical care. Results The respondent pharmacists’ understanding of pharmaceutical care was only moderate, though they showed a positive attitude towards providing the service. The respondent pharmacists from both chain and independent pharmacies provided more basic pharmaceutical service than advanced pharmaceutical care. Regarding barriers to providing pharmaceutical care, the respondent pharmacists identified the main barriers as a lack of physical space, slow introduction of pharmacist law, lack of patient acceptance of pharmaceutical care, and lack of face-to-face communication with patients. Pharmacists at chain pharmacies had a better understanding of and attitude toward pharmaceutical care and practiced more advanced pharmaceutical care than pharmacists at independent pharmacies. Conclusion Chinese community pharmacists’ understanding and practice of pharmaceutical care in China needs improvement. Compared with pharmacists at chain pharmacies, pharmacists at independent pharmacies face more challenges in providing pharmaceutical care. Specific efforts should be made to improve pharmacist competence, increase patient acceptance and shape a better operative environment for community pharmacies, especially for independent pharmacies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the data collection assistants who provided help in data collection.

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  1. Xiaoyu Xi and Yuankai Huang are co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Development Research Center of Licensed Pharmacist, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

    Xiaoyu Xi, Yuankai Huang & Qianni Lu

  2. State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, N22-2057, Taipa, Macao, China

    Carolina Oi Lam Ung & Hao Hu

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  1. Xiaoyu Xi
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Correspondence to Hao Hu.

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Xi, X., Huang, Y., Lu, Q. et al. Community pharmacists’ opinions and practice of pharmaceutical care at chain pharmacy and independent pharmacy in China. Int J Clin Pharm 41, 478–487 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-019-00802-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-019-00802-w

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