Role of Pharmacist for Screening and Counseling People with Depression at Community Pharmacy
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Abstract
The objective of this quasi-experimental research was to identify the incidence, risk factors of depression
and assess the outcomes of counseling in patients with depression. The patients who received pharmacy
service at the community pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University had been screened for
depression and had depression scores greater than or equal to 6 point (criteria from department of mental
health) were randomized into either experimental group or control group. The study group received counseling
from pharmacy students, while the control group obtained regular services. Both groups were assessed for
depression score before and after 6 weeks of counseling. The study was conducted from January to February
2007. Of 305 persons who were screened for depression, 61 were depressed (20.0%). The risk factors are
female, having educational problems, having problem in family relationships, having problem in friend
relationships, having problem in boyfriends/girlfriends relationships and low incomes (<9,000 baht per month).
Before counseling, the depression scores were not different between the experimental group and the control
group (p>0.05). The depression scores decreased were statistically significant between the study group and the
control group after counseling (p<0.001, p = 0.001). The depression scores of patients in the experimental
group were significantly lower than those in the control group (3.0 ± 1.1, 6.4 ± 3.2; p < 0.001). The result
of this study showed that counseling by pharmacy students can improve patients who have depression.
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References
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