{"id":9107,"date":"2024-12-02T13:00:48","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T12:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ippez.pl\/?p=9107"},"modified":"2024-12-02T13:00:50","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T12:00:50","slug":"the-role-of-pharmacists-in-the-prevention-and-treatment-of-civilisation-diseases-is-growing-this-is-exactly-what-the-polish-people-expect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ippez.pl\/en\/rosnie-rola-farmaceutow-w-profilaktyce-i-leczeniu-chorob-cywilizacyjnych-dokladnie-tego-oczekuja-polacy\/","title":{"rendered":"The role of pharmacists in the prevention and treatment of lifestyle diseases is growing. This is exactly what Poles expect"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pharmacists are ready and willing to play a greater role in the healthcare system, actively supporting patients in disease prevention, health education and the treatment of minor ailments. According to a report entitled 'The role of pharmacists in the fight against lifestyle diseases', compiled by IQVIA on behalf of Kenvue, the development of pharmaceutical care is not only expected by pharmacy staff, but above all by patients. Services such as drug reviews, rapid diagnostic tests and health education would benefit as many as two-thirds of those surveyed. What does pharmaceutical care look like in Poland at present and what is needed to enable pharmacists to fulfil their mission more effectively?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changes to strengthen the role of pharmacists in the healthcare system were introduced by the Pharmacy Profession Act of 10 December 2020, which came into force on 16 April 2021. The legislation empowers pharmacists to, among other things, perform drug reviews with pharmacotherapy assessments, perform certain diagnostic tests and vaccinations, and issue prescriptions in continuation of a doctor's order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the report 'The role of pharmacists in the fight against lifestyle diseases', pharmacists are positive about the additional powers and want to use them because they feel a great responsibility for patients' health (84 per cent of respondents). Pharmacy professionals are optimistic about the idea of supporting other health professions more widely in patient care. In order to fulfil their mission, they are willing to engage in preventive activities regarding civilisation diseases such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, allergies, obesity, cancer or mental disorders. At the same time, they declare their willingness to specialise in selected fields. More than half of the respondents would like to broaden their knowledge on diabetes, and slightly less on obesity. Other areas of specialisation preferred by pharmacists include allergies or combating cigarette addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

- Pharmacists have an important role to play in the health system. They showed what they could do during the pandemic. At that time, pharmacies were the first point of help for many patients, offering support to treat minor ailments. Every day, pharmacists recommend products that improve a patient's health on an ad hoc basis from a wide range of over-the-counter medicines. And this is what our report presents. Pharmacists are ready to become more involved in prevention and patient education. They are known and trusted by the public. We show that their potential as healthcare professionals is worth exploiting<\/em> - she commented Katarzyna Branny, General Manager CEE Kenvue.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only to the pharmacist for advice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although pharmacists cannot replace doctors, they can significantly ease their burden. The report \"The role of pharmacists in the fight against lifestyle diseases\" shows that for common, known ailments, as many as 60 per cent of patients surveyed choose to visit a pharmacy rather than a doctor's surgery. As many as 43 per cent of patients rely on a pharmacist's recommendation, and a further 22 per cent rely on a pharmacist's recommendation. - despite their claimed product knowledge - expect the pharmacist to provide additional information and support in choosing the right OTC medicine. In addition, two-thirds of the respondents are willing to listen to advice on what they should pay attention to when taking medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

- Polish patients are more likely to have contact with a pharmacist than with a GP or specialist. This is for obvious reasons. The need to sign up for an appointment, the queues - sometimes it is simply more convenient and quicker to ask a pharmacist for advice. Patients have increasingly high expectations of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. They want professional consultations, e.g. on getting rid of cold symptoms, allergic rhinitis or quitting smoking. The introduction of such care in pharmacies would benefit us all. It is an opportunity to reduce the burden on the healthcare system <\/em>- she added Catherine Branny.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients show a strong interest in pharmaceutical care. One in two respondents would be happy to receive additional services at the pharmacy and would agree to provide the pharmacist with access to their medication history. Patients are interested in suggestions for preventive care, as well as selected diagnostic tests in pharmacies - for example, blood glucose measurement or LDL cholesterol levels. Most respondents are of the opinion that pharmaceutical care can improve the healthcare system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are on the right track...<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To meet the expectations of patients and pharmacists themselves, more and more pharmacies are engaging in pharmaceutical care pilot programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

- We are currently seeing a breakthrough in the development of pharmaceutical care in pharmacies, especially on the topic of pharmaceutical services. Pharmacists carry out vaccinations, provide consultations, take part in pilots of pharmaceutical services such as diagnostic tests or smoking cessation services. They are specialists in pharmacology and therapeutics and have the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively support patients in the fight against civilisation diseases and, fortunately, the healthcare system in Poland is starting to recognise this more and more <\/em>-said Paulina Serwata, Head of Pharmaceutical Services at Dr. Max Polska.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paulina Serwata also talked about a project implemented by some pharmacies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

- \"Change your thinking, stop smoking!\" is the name of a project that has been implemented for several months in selected pharmacies participating in the Dr. Max franchise network. Assumptions and materials related to the project were consulted with scientists of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University - Collegium Medicum. We can already say that the pilot is proving very popular with patients who need support in quitting. As part of the service, the patient has the opportunity to meet with the pharmacist in a separate room, which ensures intimacy and allows the patient to talk freely. Quitting smoking plays a key role in the prevention of lung cancer. You don't have to go to a doctor to take the first step, sometimes all you need to do is consult a pharmacist who can give you advice on how to try to quit and take care of your health.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

...<\/strong> but the target is still some way off<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order for the mission of pharmacists to be successful, further system changes are needed to clearly define the role of pharmacy staff in health care, as well as to ensure that patients have the right environment to benefit from selected pharmaceutical care services. Currently, many facilities lack the space to talk freely about certain ailments. Erectile problems, mental illnesses and disorders, urinary incontinence or haemorrhoids are still taboo topics for Poles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Providing patients with effective support in the prevention and treatment of lifestyle diseases also requires further education of health professionals. In doing so, Kenvue relies on innovative solutions. Among other things, the training it offers takes place using VR goggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

- Digitalisation first and foremost. This motto guides our actions every day. Using VR technology, we take pharmacists into a virtual pharmacy, where they face the challenge of helping patients with real health problems. This is the future of pharmacy education - a direct, interactive experience that pushes the boundaries of traditional learning <\/em>- underlines Pawel Bronikowski, Head of Pharma Poland, Kenvue.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the VR app, the pharmacist gains knowledge about available OTC therapies, side effects and also learns about current medical society guidelines or clinical trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The full report, 'The role of pharmacists in the fight against lifestyle diseases', can be read at www.academyplus.pl<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n