Patient Preference
Conditions
Keywords
pharmaceutical care, preference, digital care
Brief summary
Digital pharmaceutical care, also known as e-pharmaceutical care or telepharmacy, refers to using digital technologies to provide remote pharmaceutical care services. It involves the application of digital tools and platforms to deliver medication-related services, patient counseling, medication management, and other pharmaceutical care activities. It allows patients to access pharmaceutical services conveniently from their homes or any location with an internet connection. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with limited mobility, those living in rural or underserved areas, or patients with difficulty visiting a physical pharmacy. However, it is essential to note that while digital pharmaceutical care provides many benefits, it may only suit some patients or situations. Some individuals may still prefer face-to-face interactions or may require hands-on assistance, especially for complex medication management. Healthcare providers should assess the appropriateness of digital solutions on a case-by-case basis and ensure patient privacy and data security when implementing digital pharmaceutical care services.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSurvey
Developed questionnaire to assess the literacy of patients + another survey to assess their preferences regarding traditional versus digital pharmaceutical care
Sponsors
Lebanese University
Study design
Observational model
ECOLOGIC_OR_COMMUNITY
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Inclusion criteria
* Patients who took at least one medication in the past month * Patient visiting two community pharmacies
Exclusion criteria
* Those refusing to participate * Those with severe hearing or mental problems
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Patient preference | through study completion, an average of 2 months | A self-reported questionnaire was developed and piloted on the first 30 patients visiting the pharmacies. Minor modifications were performed taking into consideration two expert reviews. It is available in Arabic (native language) and English based on participants' preferences. It includes 3 parts: the first part comprises the baseline characteristics of the patients and their medical history/habits; the second part reports patients' preferences, benefits and disadvantages of each of the outcomes (in-person versus digital health); and the third part assess e-literacy among them using the e-HEALS 8-item scale previously validated on the Arab population. |
Countries
Lebanon
Outcome results
None listed