Pharmacists role in medical devices: from diagnosis to monitoring of therapy

Abstract

Introduction. Medical devices, like medicines and other health technologies, are essential for patient care: at the bedside, at the urban and rural pharmacy or health clinic, or at the large, specialized hospital. Pharmacists hold a unique competency set and use their skills to help patients manage their medication and medical devise for optimal outcomes. Like other healthcare professionals, pharmacists are often required to deliver highly technical language to patients in a manner that they understand. This applies both to medicines and medical devices, many of which are sold in pharmacies. Aim of the study. Identifying pharmacist role and pharmaceutical services in medical devices, availability of diagnostic test in community pharmacies and, post-diagnosis monitoring and counselling in 62 community pharmacies from Republic of Moldova. Materials and methods. Have been conducted a descriptive observational cross-sectional study, using quantitative data collection through a semi-structured questionnaire in 62 community pharmacies and pharmacy from health centers: 33 from rural and 28 from urban area. A study was conducted through a telephone questionnaire, regarding the availability of medical devices and price of them in pharmacies, as well as the monitoring of therapy after diagnosis. Nonresponse rate was 25.8%, from which urban pharmacy – 19% rural – 81%. Results. Patients may be subjected to a variety of diagnostic procedures at different points in their journey of medical care, for example in health facility, in the workplace, and increasingly in community pharmacies. Essential diagnostics are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population and are selected with due regard to disease prevalence, public health relevance, evidence of utility and accuracy and comparative cost-effectiveness. Diagnostic procedures can be roughly classified according to two main types: directly investigative procedures, which require the presence of the patient for the duration of the procedure tests on samples. These tests are performed on samples such as blood, urine and faeces, which are removed from the patient and tested in a laboratory. When such tests are conducted in pharmacies, the pharmacist has an obvious role, but even when tests are conducted elsewhere, the pharmacist can be a useful source of information about the procedure and what it may mean for the patient. In that study have been evaluated availability of following diagnostics: blood pressure monitor, dipsticks for glucometer, glucometer, H. pylori test, pregnancy test, and HIV test. The results were as follows: pregnancy test – 85%, blood pressure monitor – 62%, dipsticks for glucometer and glucometer - 52%; H. pylori test – 10%; HIV test – 2% (only in one chain pharmacy in urban area). Pharmacy services provided in pharmacies related with medical device investigated was following: measure of blood pressure- 76%, measure of glycaemia – 2%, counselling on teenage pregnancy – 0%. Conclusions. The availability of medical devices in community pharmacies is directly correlated with the location, being much higher in the urban area. However, pharmaceutical services related to these devices are practically not provided in the Republic of Moldova, except for blood pressure measurement.