Involvement of Community Pharmacists in Public Health Services in Asir
Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study
Abstract
Background: Community pharmacists are one of the most accessible
healthcare practitioners worldwide used by a large proportion of the
population. Expanding the roles of community pharmacists could
contribute to reducing pressure on general health practice and other
areas of the health services. This research aimed to evaluate the
contribution of community pharmacists in the provision of public health
services and to investigate the perceived barriers for the provision of
these services in Saudi Arabia. Materials & Methods: This study
followed a cross-sectional design using an online anonymous
self-administered questionnaire. The study took place in Asir region,
Saudi Arabia, between September 2019 and February 2020. A convenience
sampling strategy was used to select and recruit the study participants.
The questionnaire was adapted from previous research and involved three
sections: demographics, involvement in public health services, and
barriers for practising public health roles. Results: The total number
of respondents was 193. The proportion of respondents who reported that
they were “very involved” or “involved” in each service was 61.7%
for weight management, 60.6% for sexual health, 57.5% for healthy
eating, 53.4% for physical activity promotion, 51.3% for dental
health, 46.1% for smoking cessation, 39.4% for screening for diabetes,
35.7% for screening for hypertension, 31.1% for alcohol dependence and
drug misuse counselling, 30.6% for screening for dyslipidaemia, and
21.8% for vaccination and immunisation. Most of the barriers in the
current research were rated as having low relevance to the provision of
public health services. Conclusion: Findings in the current research
suggest that community pharmacists in Asir region have intermediate to
minimal engagement in practicing their public health roles. Further
research needs to be undertaken to understand the barriers to the
provision of public health services and what strategies would be
beneficial for enhancing the public health role of community pharmacists
in Saudi Arabia.