Abstract:
Introduction
The extent to which the community pharmacist contribute in patient counselling and health education is unclear. The purpose of this study was to derive an accurate and account of community pharmacist, activities and health education services to words the role of community pharmacist in patient counselling and health education services in type 2 diabetes mellitus
patients. Secondly to identify the barriers involved in the process of health education services.
Methods
A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Klang valley involving 254 community pharmacists. Data collection was done by self-administrated questionnaire. As descriptive statistics were used for characteristics of the respondents and the response for each question by reporting frequency and
percentages. The association between two categorical variables was examined using Pearson’s chi-square test.
Results
Out of 254 participants, Majority of pharmacist were females 163 (64.2%), Chinese ethnicity 218 (85.8%) and highest educational qualification possess was bachelor’s degree 211 (83.1%). Most of the pharmacists attended to counsel patients mainly on diabetic diet 252 (99.2%), diet management 249 (98.0%), timing and administration of medication 245 (96.5%), weight control 242 (95.3%), symptoms and treatment of hypoglycaemia 236 (92.9%)
and foot care 205 (80.7%). Pharmacist has identified the common concerns of diabetic patients were retinopathy 248 (97.7%) and nephropathy 246 (96.9%). As from pharmacist’s perspective, priority should be given mostly on diet 129 (50.8%) and compliance 113 (44.5%) to improve patient knowledge on diabetic management.
Conclusion
The findings suggest the community pharmacist professionals performing in diabetic health education services is appropriate especially in lifestyle relating counselling activities. The most common barriers identified by community pharmacist were cost, diet and side effect. training is required to equip pharmacist to deliver these services effectively furthermore the role in diabetic care are recommended.
