Effects of the Sisaket Telepharmacy Network Application for Providing Telepharmacy Services by the Network of Hospital and Warm -Hearted Community Pharmacies in Sisaket Province

Abstract

Objective: To study the effects of the Sisaket Pharmacy Network Application (the Application) developed in the study for providing telepharmacy services by the network of hospital and warm-hearted community pharmacies in Sisaket province. Method: This study was an action research collecting data within 3 months from June to August 2023. Subjects were 164 patients receiving pharmacy services through the Application that enabled drug counseling from hospital and community pharmacies before and after provision of telepharmacy services, and monitoring drug related problems (DRPs) and side effects. Study outcomes included DRPs identified by hospital pharmacists before providing telepharmacy services, DRPs identified by community pharmacists 14 days after receiving telepharmacy services, and patient satisfaction towards telepharmacy service assessed after receiving medications by mail. Results: Before providing telepharmacy services, 46 DRPs were found in 46 patients (28.05%). Four most common DRPs were medication non-adherence medication (80.43% of all DRPs), not receiving all the medicines prescribed by physicians (4.35% of all DRPs), self-medication (4.35% of all DRPs), and unimproved patient's conditions (4.35% of all DRPs). Follow-up of DRPs revealed that 44 of them (95.65%) were resolved. Eight DRPs were identified during the counseling after telepharmacy services. Three most common DRPs were patients receiving medications later than usual/error in recording the appointment date in the system (2 problems), medication non-adherence (2 problems), and unimproved patient's conditions (2 problems). All DRPs were monitored and resolved. There were 23 DRPs identified in patients from psychiatric clinics before receiving telepharmacy services. Four most common DRPs were non-adherence (80.43% of all DRPs in psychiatric clinics), receiving less medications than the amount that should have been given (4.35%), self-medication (4.35%) and unimproved patient's conditions (4.35%). All DRPs were followed up by pharmacists. Five DRPs were identified after receiving the service with 2 being medication non-adherence. Patient satisfaction with telepharmacy services had a mean score of 3.80±0.44 (out of a full score of 4). Conclusion: The Sisaket Pharmacy network application can be used as a tool for monitoring drug safety for patients. It could link information between hospitals and community pharmacies within the network. This application can increase the professional role of community pharmacists.