Minor ailment interventions and the pivotal role of the community pharmacist in greece
Authors: Peletidi A , Kokoroskou P , Petrides M , Petrou C 
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Community pharmacists (CPs) play a vital role in providing advice and treatment for minor ailments, offering accessible and convenient healthcare services to the public1. The selection of appropriate management strategies is crucial for promoting self-care and empowering individuals to take an active role in addressing their health issues2.

Aim

This study aimed to measure the level of knowledge and perceptions of pharmacists regarding primary pharmaceutical care practices and the management of minor ailments.

Methods

This quantitative, cross-sectional study used a survey-based questionnaire developed after extensive literature review. It consisted of both closed-ended questions (multiple-choice questions) and Likert-type questions scale ranged from 1 to 5 (Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree) to rate their level of agreement or disagreement. Ethical approval was obtained from the Pharmaceutical Association of Attica (PAA). This study employed purposive sampling to select participants, ensuring their participation was both anonymous and voluntary. The study commenced in December 2023, and data collection (both face-to-face and electronically via the university’s Moodle platform) was completed by March 2024. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel®.

Results

The PAA informed 68 CPs from the Southern sector of Athens, and 60 CPs responded, resulting in a response rate of approximately 88.24%. The survey results show that the majority of respondents were women, N=33 (55%). The main age groups were 31-40 and 41-50 years, each with N=13 (21.7%), and most were pharmacy owners, N=34 (38.6%). Most participants were pharmacy graduates, N=52 (86.7%), with only N=8 (13.3%) holding postgraduate degrees. The majority of CPs were able to accurately identify and distinguish minor ailments. Only a small percentage mistakenly included conditions typically classified as chronic, with 8.3% (N=5) listing high cholesterol and 1.7% (N=1) listing hypertension.The survey-results indicate that a significant portion of the respondents perceive the role of the CP as central to the healthcare system, with 78.3% (N=47) affirming its importance. All participants felt confident in detecting and recommending treatment for minor ailments; 83.3% (N=50) considered their university training adequate. The main obstacles for CPs were a lack of time (90%, N=54) and the absence of compensation for extended services (50%, N=30). Additionally, 98.3% (N=59) supported lifelong learning, with continuous professional development in primary care being the top choice (46.7%, N=28), followed by advanced clinical training (36.7%, N=22). Participants hope to play a more active role in disease management within five years (35%, N=21) and seek autonomy in prescribing (30%, N=18). They expect support through collaboration (48.3%, N=29), policy reforms (28.3%, N=17), and compensated services (20%, N=12). Additionally, 96.7% (N=58) feel prepared to offer extensive pharmacy services, viewing it as an opportunity to demonstrate their clinical skills.

Discussion/Conclusion

This seems to be the first study of its kind in Greece.The study faced limitations such as potential response bias, restriction to a specific pharmacist population, and a limited time frame, which may affect generalisability. Despite these, the findings offer valuable insights into pharmaceutical care practices in Athens' southern sector, providing a foundation for future research and targeted interventions to enhance care in Greece.

References

1. Goode, J.-V. et al. ‘Community-Based Pharmacy Practice Innovation and the Role of the Community-Based Pharmacist Practitioner in the United States’, Pharmacy, 2019 7(3), p. 106. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy7030106.

2. Ayele, A.A. et al. ‘Management of minor ailments in a community pharmacy setting: Findings from simulated visits and qualitative study in Gondar town, Ethiopia’, PLOS ONE. Edited by M.A. Ahmad Hassali, 2018 13(1), p. e0190583. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190583