An exploration of clinical pharmacy practices in Lao PDR: a national survey of hospital pharmacists.

Objectives: To explore clinical pharmacy practice among hospital pharmacists in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 158 hospitals of Lao PDR, surveying hospital pharmacists involved in patient care from January to March 2022. The number of pharmacists providing clinical pharmacy and their practice frequency were assessed. Differences across pharmacist characteristics, hospitals, and areas were examined.

Key findings: One hundred thirty-nine hospital pharmacists completed the questionnaire, a response rate of 87.9%. The number of hospital pharmacists per 100,000 population was highest in Xaisomboun and lowest in Savannakhet. The number of pharmacists per 1,000 km² was highest in Vientiane prefecture, and very low in many provinces. Only 12 (1.3%) pharmacists reported training in clinical pharmacy. The most prevalent activities were evaluating drug therapy (96.4%), upholding professionalism (96.4%), and committing professionalism (94.9%). The least prevalent were locating evidence (56.8%), applying knowledge (58.9%), and demonstrating continuing professional development (59.7%). Differences in practices were noted between age, qualification, and hospital types. Current major activities included rational drug use, antibiotic stewardship, and managing adverse drug reactions. Future expectations included diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus, and tuberculosis clinics.

Conclusions: Clinical pharmacy services like patient care and pharmacotherapy management are frequently provided, but there is a shortage of trained clinical pharmacists and variability in practices between hospitals and regions. Technical support, training programmes, and a clinical pharmacy framework are needed in Lao PDR.