Assessing the willingness of community pharmacists to test–treat–immunize during the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico

Global overview of pharmacist and community pharmacy actions to address COVID-19: A scoping review

Introduction

Pharmacists and community pharmacies play an important role in managing, identifying and preventing the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Objectives

To characterize the global panorama of action by pharmacists and community pharmacies in facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The scoping review was based on the search for scientific articles in the databases: PubMed; Scopus; ScienceDirect and Web of Science. The search was carried out on August 31, 2021. The selection process was divided into 3 phases: i) title analysis; ii) analysis of study abstracts; iii) analysis of the full texts of the studies selected in the previous step. Studies were independently selected by two investigators and discrepancies resolved by consensus during focus group discussions led by a third reviewer.

Results

The final search yielded 36 articles for the review. The main strategies for coping with COVID-19 were grouped into 4 categories defined by consensus between the authors: (1) services for providing care to the patient; (2) product management; (3) infection prevention and control practices in community pharmacy; (4) preparation, sources of information used and training offered/received. Through these, the aim was to involve technical managerial, technical assistance and pedagogical technical actions adopted, as well as structure and process indicators that allowed the continuity of the offer of services.

Conclusion

During the pandemic, pharmacists and community pharmacies have been providing essential health services to communities. The results of this review may help to identify the changes adopted to face the COVID-19 pandemic and may contribute to improving the quality of practices in these establishments during the pandemic and after it, in similar situations.

Expanded roles of community pharmacists in COVID-19: A scoping literature review

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the world health care system adversely, but it has also brought out innovative roles for health care professionals to cater to growing health care needs. Community pharmacists provide community pharmacy services and can play a vital role in fighting the pandemic by taking on novel roles that complement their pre-existing roles.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to provide a scoping review of current and emerging literature about the novel roles adopted by community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Online databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed were searched systematically using the keywords "COVID-19," "pharmacist," and "community." Articles were selected based on availability of full text in English language, with time limit from December 1, 2019, to October 31, 2021; case reports, cross-sectional studies, literature reviews, qualitative studies, and systematic reviews were included, whereas commentary reviews and editorials were excluded from the search methodology. An independent review of the articles was conducted for inclusion based on relatability to study subject; those chosen were screened for references to find additional gray literature. Findings were arranged in themes, and the results were organized accordingly.

RESULTS

Novel roles for community pharmacists were found in relation to maintenance of drug-supply chains, delivery of telepharmacy and telehealth services, provision of ambulatory pharmacy services, use of digital software to coordinate medication delivery for patients with chronic conditions, dispelling of misinformation, and roles in research and clinical trials. Roles in a post-COVID world regarding immunization of population and involvement in lifting lockdown strictures alongside other stakeholders were also explored.

CONCLUSION

Although COVID-19 has challenged the health care system, it has also provided an opportunity for development of novel and innovative roles that can ultimately have profound consequences for the health care system. Community pharmacists, despite facing multiple challenges in the community, should be facilitated to adapt with these new roles, which can be beneficial in achieving mass immunization and better health care in a post-COVID world.

The voices of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico

Background

Community pharmacists have provided health care services uninterruptedly throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, their public health role is often overlooked.

Objectives

The purpose of this article is to discuss the roles and the coping mechanisms of community pharmacists working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico.

Methods

A cross-sectional study, using an electronic survey, was conducted to assess the community pharmacists’ response during the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico. Two open-ended questions explored community pharmacists’ opinions about the pharmacist’s role and coping mechanisms during the pandemic. The responses were analyzed following an inductive thematic analysis. Two major themes emerged from their responses: professional and personal experiences.

Results

Of the 302 participants who completed the survey, 77% of them answered 1 or both open-ended questions. The answers were diverse, and the respondents went beyond the specific topics asked. In professional experiences, important roles as educators and providing continuity of care and emotional support to their patients were highlighted. They also expressed concerns and frustrations on the profession’s shortcomings, feeling overworked yet with a lack of recognition. In personal experiences, most of the respondents were concerned about the impact of having to juggle work and home life. They also reported mental health concerns, expressing feeling stressed, overworked, and worried about the constant risk of exposure and fear of exposing their loved ones.

Conclusion

Community pharmacists in Puerto Rico ensured the continuation of care, provided education, and managed anxious and stressed patients. Most relied on family members to cope with the extra burden that the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of recognition created resentfulness among participants. It is essential to listen to our community pharmacists’ voices to support and respond to their needs and learn from their experiences as frontline health care workers.