Objectives: To explore patientâ��s perspectives of the role of the community pharmacist in view of\nother health care professionals (specialist physician, general practitioner, nurse and others (e.g.\nherbalist)) in Jordan, UAE and Iraq. The study also investigated patientâ��s willingness to pay for\nspecialized pharmaceutical care services. Methods: This study followed a single phase cross sectional\nsurvey methodology, conducted in three Middle Eastern countries. Data were collected over\na period of 6 months on two consecutive years (March to May 2009 and 2010). A questionnaire\nwas designed and validated, then completed by patients walking into community pharmacies. The\nsource of advice (specialist physician, general practitioner, pharmacist, nurse, or herbalist) regarding\npatientâ��s medication use and medical management were investigated. Key findings: Patients\nvisiting community pharmacies in Jordan (n = 1000), UAE (n = 1000) and Iraq (n = 968)\nwere recruited into the study (mean age 35.9 �± 13.1, 50.6% males). Significant difference between\nthe three countries was shown, as more patients chose the pharmacist as their primary source of\nadvice on medication use vs. the specialist physician in Jordan (50.8% vs. 37.3%) and Iraq (41.9%vs. 36.7%) compared to UAE (38.0% vs. 40.1%), P < 0.001, Chi-square test. Few agreed to receive\npaid pharmaceutical care services (Jordan 19.5%; UAE 24.7%; Iraq 2.3%). Conclusion: Current\nsituation resulting in the lower socioeconomic status in Jordan and Iraq seems to lead to patientsâ��\nhigher reliance on the pharmacist, as compared to the UAE. Majority of patients, regardless of the\ncountry of origin, are not willing to pay for specialized pharmaceutical care services. These findings\nare important for future social pharmacy research in the area.
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