Study of pharmaceutical competences among the Romanian population, based on an online survey

Abstract

Abstract From the year 1990s the pharmaceutical competenceshttps://www.thesaurus.com/browse/assignment based on drug supply has been completed with the patient consultation and communication. This fact has greatly expanded the work of the pharmacists. As a result of this, the concept of pharmaceutical care has been introduced and normalized in several countries. But, in spite of all efforts there are still major differences in health care policies and practices among European countries. The aim of this study was to check the estimation of the pharmacists’ duties by patients and the attitude towards online medicine acquisition. Materials and methods: we used a four - part questionnaire created in Google Forms. The content of the questionnaire consisted of: a.) checking of the demographic data, b.) assessment of patients’ attitudes towards pharmacies, c.) assessment of pharmacist competences, d.) examining the viability of an online drug supply. Results and discussion: 524 persons completed the questionnaire (88.7% women, 11.3% men). 66.8% were from the city and 33.2% from the village, respectively. Patients’ adherence to pharmacies in most cases depended on the location of the pharmacy (65.1%) and the kindness (36.5%) and competence (36.5%) of the pharmacist. Checked with three parallel questions, it turned out that the number of questions occurring in the patients’ mind at home always exceeded the proportion of the answered questions in the pharmacy. 68.1% of the respondents consulted a pharmacist in the absence of a physician. Many (54.4%) of that surveyed searched healthcare information on Google search, but few of them ordered medicinal products via Internet. Based on the results of our survey, 18.3% of the respondents searched healthcare information on healthcare professionals’ online platform. Their trust was much greater in such platforms than in information found on Google search. Conclusion: A slight loyalty to a certain pharmacy can make it difficult to follow the drug therapy. This adherence to a pharmacy can be increased by the kindness and skills of the pharmacist. Although patients search healthcare information on online interfaces this information do not convince them to order medicinal products via Internet. The high degree of trust in pharmacist or physician managed homepages highlight the importance of these interfaces.