Evaluating the Professional Practice of Pharmacists Working at Pharmacies in Dealing with Drug Prescriptions

Abstract

Introduction: Pharmacists as the link between the patient and the physician to optimize drugs’ use play an important role in public health and the role of them in giving information and prevention medical errors is undeniable. In this regard, it is important to assess the scientific skills and precision of the pharmacists in diagnosing and correcting the possible medication errors. The aim of this research is to know how many pharmacists have been successful in performing their duties and providing medical services and what factors can influence this issue. Method: In this study, 120 pharmacies were selected to be assessed on their performance (giving information about Drug use, Drug interactions, Maintenance drug, etc.) in dealing with the prescription of the wrong medication (that is took by an unknown person) as well as the implementation of trade rules. Results: The results of this study indicated that pharmacists were present only in 65.83% of pharmacies of the whole sample. Although a small percentage of pharmacists were active in scientific fields, 69.17% of prescriptions are delivered by the staff. Moreover, patients were informed about 7.5% of drug interactions and 2.5% of side effects of drug and 19.16% of drug maintenance conditions. However, the accuracy of orders written in compliance with prescribed medication was 100%. Discussion: Although the improvement of medical services is of any pharmacist’s concern, this study manifests that providing the wrong medications or not expressing the required information about the medicines to the patient still happens in the pharmacies and obviously this issue must be regarded deeply.