OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore qualitative insights from community pharmacists regarding antibiotic supply and usage, analyze sentiments related to AMR, and highlight the crucial role of community pharmacists in AMR stewardship at the primary care/community level.
METHODS: This study engaged community pharmacists in Thailand through semi-structured interviews to obtain in-depth insights into the antibiotic supply and perceptions of AMR. Additionally, sentiment analysis, which evaluates the emotional tone of the pharmacists' responses, was conducted to enrich the findings.
RESULTS: Interviews with 23 community pharmacists highlighted the practices, challenges, and strategies related to antibiotic supply and use. Key findings include the identification of barriers such as patient demand and lack of awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), alongside strategies for improvement such as public education and professional development. Sentiment analysis reveals a cautiously optimistic perspective toward enhancing rational antibiotic use, underscoring the importance of comprehensive approaches that combine education, ethics, and regulatory measures to address the complexities of antibiotic management at community pharmacies.
CONCLUSION: This study underscores the necessity of public awareness, pharmacist-patient relationships, and regulatory reforms for the rational use of antibiotics in community pharmacies. These findings emphasize that pharmacist education and adherence to professional ethics are essential for mitigating antimicrobial resistance and promoting rational antibiotic use.
AIMS: To systematically review the current state of PGx in the primary care settings and determine the enablers and challenges of its implementation.
DESIGN: A scoping review was carried out by adhering to Arksey and O'Malley's 6-stage methodological framework and the 2020 Joanna Briggs Institute and Levac et al. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Global Health, MEDLINE and PubMed were searched up to 17 July 2023.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: All peer-reviewed studies in English, reporting the enablers and the challenges of implementing PGx in the primary care settings were included.
DATE EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two independent reviewers extracted the data. Information was synthesised based on the reported enablers and the challenges of implementing PGx testing in the primary care settings. Information was then presented to stakeholders for their inputs.
RESULTS: 78 studies discussing the implementation of PGx testing are included, of which 57% were published between 2019 and 2023. 68% of the studies discussed PGx testing in the primary care setting as a disease-specific themes. Healthcare professionals were the major stakeholders, with primary care physicians (55%) being the most represented. Enablers encompassed various advantages such as diagnostic and therapeutic benefits, cost reduction and the empowerment of healthcare professionals. Challenges included the absence of sufficient scientific evidence, insufficient training for healthcare professionals, ethical and legal aspects of PGx data, low patient awareness and acceptance and the high costs linked to PGx testing.
CONCLUSION: PGx testing integration in primary care requires increased consumer awareness, comprehensive healthcare provider training on legal and ethical aspects and global feasibility studies to better understand its implementation challenges. Managing high costs entails streamlining processes, advocating for reimbursement policies and investing in research on innovation and affordability research to improve life expectancy.