Participatory Action Research on the Empowerment of Modern Drugstores for Packaged Non-Dangerous or Non-Specially Controlled Drugs in Chonburi

Abstract

Objectives: 1. To study the readiness and barriers faced by modern drugstores for packaged non-dangerous or non-specially controlled drugs (class 2 drugstores) in compliance with the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health regarding the specification of premise, equipment and good community pharmacy practice in modern drugstores for packaged non-dangerous or non-specially controlled drugs (Notification) 2. To determine the approaches for empowering class 2 drugstores, and 3. To evaluate the implementation of such empowerment. Method: The study population was 106 class 2 drugstores located in Chonburi. This study was participatory action research with four stages including planning, operation, observation and reflection. The study collected quantitative and qualitative data with questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, respectively. Results: Mean score on overall pharmacy readiness was 1.25±0.21 (implemented = 2, in preparation = 1, not yet implemented = 0). Participants were lack of knowledge on the Notification and related laws, showing negative attitudes towards the implementation of the Notification. Moreover, they had inadequate necessary skills on information technology. The approach to empower drugstores was to organize a participatory workshop to improve knowledge and attitude towards the Notification and improve skills in information technology, hand-on experiences in implementing the Notification, and sharing knowledge from auditing the drugstores. After participating in the activities, drugstore owners had a significantly higher level of knowledge and attitudes to implement the Notification, as well as having a better skill in accessing information compared to those before participating in the activities (P=0.01). After participating in the activities, drugstores had a mean overall readiness score of 1.62±0.31 and having an increase in average score in all domains of readiness. All 106 class 2 drugstores passed the audit and complied with the Notification before it was enforced. Class 2 drugstores could be divided into 3 groups: 1) a group with high potential with the intention to transform to class 1 drugstores. (n=11) 2) a group with high potential according to the Notification with intention to remain being class 2 drugstores (n=86), and 3) a group with potential to implement the Notification, but planning to leave the businesses because of having no successors or business problems. Conclusions: Empowerment of drugstores through participatory process enables class 2 drugstores to comply with the Notification in time before the law was in effect. Drugstores showed a tendency to achieve a higher standard of drugstores.