Impacts of the Unrest Situation within Three Southern Border Provinces on the Practice of Consumer Protection and Adaptation of Pharmacists

Abstract

Objective: To describe the practice of pharmacists in consumer protection in the unrest situation within three southern border provinces in terms of impact and adaptation. Methods: The researcher collected the data using an in-depth interview in 13 pharmacists in consumer protection and public health pharmacy department at the Provincial Public Health Office within the area who had at least one year experience in consumer protection. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Results: The pharmacists perceived 4 domains of impact as follows: 1) psychological impact including 1.1) being strained and 1.2) feeling anxious and scare of dangers and losing the loved ones. 2) impact on ways of life including 2.1) restriction on the leading of a normal life, 2.2) inconvenience in buying food and 2.3) restriction on travel and participating social activities. 3) impact on social relationship that was being distrustful among colleagues at work and those with different religions and cultures. 4) impact on professional work including 4.1) unable to work at the fullest extent as a result of safety concern 4.2) lack of adequate manpower of pharmacists and 4.3) increased workload. Three approaches employed by the pharmacists to curb with the impact were 1) approaches employed before entering the field consisting of 1.1) following the situation in the work area closely and making any changes on working plans accordingly 1.2) contacting and working with the liaisons in the area before entering the field 1.3) carefully planning on the field activities 1.4) doing research on information of the area and involved person 1.5) informing the plan for field work to the head of the department 1.6) emphasizing the routine work, being reactive and less proactive 1.7) deploy the responsibility as much as possible to those in the local area. 2) approaches during working in the field 2.1) working in the field with the mentality of safety first 2.2) being patient and diligent 2.3) being honest, transparent and straightforward in working 2.4) being culturally competent 2.5) thinking positively and 2.6) learning to let thing go 3) approaches after leaving the field or stress management. Conditions supporting the pharmacists to remain in the area were 1) being a local in the area 2) having a good relationship with the supervisors and colleagues 3) financial incentives and benefits 4) having a role model and 5) work meaningfulness. Conclusion: Unrest situation causes imbalance in lives of the pharmacists. However, if he or she realistically perceives the impact as malleable or manageable, employs the appropriate approaches to curb with the impacts and has an appropriate supportive system, the impacts will be lessened. Their lives would return to new equilibrium and not falling into crisis. As a result, he or she could remain in the areas. The study provides input for policy makers in planning to help the devoted pharmacists in the area to perceive impact of the situations as manageable and to be able to apply various approaches and supportive system to mitigate those impacts.