Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Patient Counseling for Diabetes Mellitus Patients by Dispensers in Community Pharmacies in Kampala

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Diabetes is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although medication counseling and interventions by dispensers have been found to support the management of diabetes mellitus, little is known about dispensers’ knowledge concerning patient counselling and regular practices and attitudes concerning medication counselling of diabetes patients in community pharmacies. Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the practices, knowledge and attitudes of dispensers towards counselling diabetic patients within community pharmacies in Kampala. Methods This was a cross sectional study with subjects as the pharmacy stuff involved in patient care in community pharmacies in Kampala district. Data was collected by the principal investigators and research assistants using two tools namely; a questionnaire and simulated client checklist. Data was doubly entered into Epi data and later exported to SPSS for statistical analysis in order to derive conclusions. Results: In the cross-sectional study, we had a 100% response rate. Using questionnaires, 82% of the respondents had good counselling practices. The information that was most frequently provided to patients was name, dose and dosing schedule of the drug which was supported by the simulated client study. 97% of the respondents knew how to update their knowledge on new and existing drugs, however only 27% of the respondents had good knowledge about Diabetes and its management. The most used sources of drug information were formularies and guidelines (60.5%) and the internet (57.5%). 97% of respondents strongly agreed/agreed that patient counselling is the responsibility of pharmacy professionals. Conclusion: The present study emphasizes the existing gap in self-reported and actual counseling practices by community pharmacist in Kampala, Uganda. Hence, the ministry of health, local health policy makers and other stakeholders should collaborate to design interventions to improve community pharmacists’ dispensing and counseling practice.