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Community pharmacists’ involvement in ensuring patient safety


 Burden of injuries to patients from adverse events is one of the top 10 causes of death and disability in the world; medication errors are a leading cause of injury. Most adverse events can be avoided. The objective of this work was to study involvement of community pharmacy professionals in ensuring patient safety in Armenia.
 Community pharmacists and technicians from all the regions of Armenia were asked to complete previously designed questionnaire. 353 professionals completed self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed with SPSS statistical software, version 22.0.
 87.8% of respondents reported that they observe prescribing errors when evaluating prescription at pharmacy. 69.4% of them indicate that the main error is wrong dose; 32.3% pointed medicines interactions; 32.0% - contraindications. Number of professionals from Yerevan, who indicated wrong dose, is higher than number of those from other regions (p < 0.001). Only 5.1% of participants register errors at pharmacy. 83.0% of pharmacy staff reported they always or often evaluate therapeutic aspects of prescriptions. 42.2% of respondents noted that, when patient is pressing, they never dispense a medicine without being sure that it is safe for patient; 27.5% do it very rarely. 76.8% of responders are sure their services ensure safe use of medicines by patients. 26.1% of pharmacy staff reported having SOPs at their pharmacy; 80.3% are interesting in introducing this strategy.
 Various prescription errors are observed by community pharmacists; however they are mainly not registered (there is no such requirement). In some cases prescriptions are not evaluated at community pharmacies. Approval of new standards for pharmacy practice seems to be beneficial. Recommendations are drafted for submitting to Ministry of Health.
 
 
 Involvement of pharmacy professionals in ensuring patient safety have to be increased. There is need for changes in pharmacy practice regulation leading to safer use of medicines by patients.
