INFLUENCE OF COMMUNITY PHARMACY SPECIALIZATION ON PROFESSIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL COUNSELLING SCHEME IN PHARMACIES IN POZNAN AND WARSAW (POLAND)-PILOT STUDY

Education of community pharmacy workers is a very important part of everyday practice, especially in professional counselling (PC) which brings many health benefits for the patients. The aim of the study was to investigate if the community pharmacy specialization has an influence on the scope and quality of counsels given by pharmacy workers during PC scheme implementation in community pharmacies. The research was carried out between May and November 2017. After PC scheme implementation in community pharmacies, an anonymous questionnaire was administered to 245 pharmacy workers in Poznan and Warsaw (241 women, 4 men): 146 pharmacists (143 women, 3 men) and 99 pharmacy technicians (98 women, 1 man). In the conducted study, 14.7% of pharmacists had community pharmacy specialization (according to Polish law). Pharmacists with a community pharmacy specialization referred patients more often to physicians (p<0.0001), as well as after earlier physician consultation (p<0.0001). Furthermore, they often noticed the interaction between drugs in patients’ self-treatment and in the treatment ordered by a physician (p≤0.001). The indication of medication contraindications after a physician consultation was also significantly higher within pharmacists with specialization (p<0.0001). It can be noted that pharmacists with community pharmacy specialization were asked more often for self-treatment consultation and after physician visits (p<0.0001). Development of PC in Polish community pharmacy, especially among pharmacy owners well-educated in community pharmacy specialization, may help to increase safety of pharmacotherapy.