Patient Perspectives of the Role of the Community Pharmacist in the Middle East: Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Iraq

Objectives: To explore patient’s perspectives of the role of the community pharmacist in view of other health care professionals (specialist physician, general practitioner, nurse and others (e.g. herbalist)) in Jordan, UAE and Iraq. The study also investigated patient’s willingness to pay for specialized pharmaceutical care services. Methods: This study followed a single phase cross sectional survey methodology, conducted in three Middle Eastern countries. Data were collected over a period of 6 months on two consecutive years (March to May 2009 and 2010). A questionnaire was designed and validated, then completed by patients walking into community pharmacies. The source of advice (specialist physician, general practitioner, pharmacist, nurse, or herbalist) regarding patient’s medication use and medical management were investigated. Key findings: Patients visiting community pharmacies in Jordan (n = 1000), UAE (n = 1000) and Iraq (n = 968) were recruited into the study (mean age 35.9 ± 13.1, 50.6% males). Significant difference between the three countries was shown, as more patients chose the pharmacist as their primary source of advice 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 paid pharmaceutical care services (Jordan 19.5%; UAE 24.7%; Iraq 2.3%). Conclusion: Current situation resulting in the lower socioeconomic status in Jordan and Iraq seems to lead to patients’ higher reliance on the pharmacist, as compared to the UAE. Majority of patients, regardless of the country of origin, are not willing to pay for specialized pharmaceutical care services. These findings are important for future social pharmacy research in the area.