Key result
Community and institutional pharmacists differ on perceived patient access but not other care continuity dimensions.
Why the study?
The role of pharmacists in the continuity of care for patients with heart diseases has not been well studied.
Are there significant differences in the perceptions of continuity of care for cardiovascular patients between institutional and community pharmacists?
Cross-Sectional (n=423)
Are there significant differences in the perceptions of continuity of care for cardiovascular patients between institutional and community pharmacists?
p-value: p=0.001
Community and institutional pharmacists share similar perceptions on most dimensions of cardiovascular patient care continuity, except for perceived patient access to pharmacist services.
Access differences should not change practice; leaves open effects on cardiovascular continuity of care.
Background: The role of pharmacists in the continuity of care for patients with heart diseases has not been well studied. In this research, the objective was to explore and evaluate the perceptions of continuity of care for cardiovascular patients by institutional (pharmacists working at pharmacies of hospitals/clinics/health centers) and community pharmacists. Hypotheses were tested to see if there were significant differences in the perceptions of both pharmacist groups on five key dimensions of heart care continuity. Methods: A survey was conducted involving community and institutional pharmacists caring for patients with heart diseases. The targeted sample size was 148 community pharmacists and 148 institutional pharmacists. This was a cross-sectional analytical study. Elements of comparison wereawareness of their medication, patients’ familiarity with safety and benefit of medication, concern about self-care of patients, satisfaction with care received by patients, and access of patients to pharmacists. Descriptive and inferential statistics (i.e., median and Mann-Whitney U tests) were conducted to analyze the data. Results: A total of 240 community pharmacists and 183 institutional pharmacists filled out the survey. The findings of this study showed that there were no significant differences in the perceptions of community and institutional pharmacists on four of the five dimensions of heart care continuity of their patients – perceived awareness of their patients on their medications, satisfaction of their patients with care received, level of concern on their patients' self-care and level of familiarity their patients have on the safety and benefits of their medications. Difference in the perceptions between community and institutional pharmacists on the level of access their patients have to pharmacist services was with a p-value of 0.001. Conclusion: Findings of this study identified “access to the pharmacist” as an area to be studied further between community and institutional pharmacists. Similar perceptions of community and institutional pharmacists showed they were positioned with common opportunities to participate in the continuity of care of patients with heart diseases.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
AlBlooshi et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease (n=423). Community pharmacists vs. Institutional pharmacists was evaluated on Perceptions on five key dimensions of heart care continuity (p=0.001). Community and institutional pharmacists differed significantly in their perceptions of patient access to pharmacist services (p=0.001), with no significant differences in four other dimensions.
Synapse has enriched 2 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: