A qualitative exploration of community pharmacists’ practices and beliefs of pretravel pharmacist consultations for prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims

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Background: The Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, are renowned as two of the largest mass religious gatherings globally. These pilgrimages, due to the large congregations, present several risks to pilgrims, including the spread of communicable diseases and exposure to environmental hazards. Community pharmacists (CPs) offering pretravel pharmacist consultation (PTPC) can play a crucial role in safeguarding the well-being of prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Objective: This study aims to explore CPs' practices and beliefs regarding PTPC for prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Methods: A semi-structured interview study involving 24 CPs in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was conducted. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was employed in both the development of the interview guide and the data analysis. Face-to-face interviews were utilized to explore CPs’ practices and beliefs, encompassing an exploration of the barriers and facilitators in providing PTPC for prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. The audio recording of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to qualitative content analysis. Results: Seven distinct pharmacist activities were identified, with the provision of travel health education emerging as the primary activity reported by CPs. Beliefs regarding PTPC for prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims were categorized into fourteen domains of the TDF. The study reveals that CPs were motivated to offer PTPC for these pilgrims. However, they also faced knowledge gaps in Hajj and Umrah travel guidelines and health-related issues relevant to the pilgrimage. Additionally, they reported several barriers, including staff shortages, lack of time, limited confidence in providing PTPC related to regulations and disease management, and perceived lack of support from doctors. Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that enhancing the provision of PTPC for prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims can be achieved through avenues such as education, training, improved resources, interprofessional collaborative efforts, and supportive policies.