The Role of Community Pharmacists in Drug Information Services in Lamongan During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Information about drugs has spread widely across social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in drug panic buying. However, public awareness and understanding about how to use drugs properly remains low. This phenomenon may lead to medication errors. Community pharmacists can provide information about the rational use of drugs though a differential diagnosis approach by comparing clinical symptoms of similar minor illnesses to increase patient safety in taking medication. This research aimed to investigate drug information services and the ideal components of counselling, information, and education (KIE) carried out by community pharmacists in drugstores during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was observational research conducted in 12 drugstores in Lamongan from April 2021 to July 2021. The data were gathered by checklists of 8 criteria of ideal KIE based on pharmacy service standards in the drugstores. The results indicated that there was an appropriate adjustment in providing drug information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Appropriate pharmacist activity in giving KIE was 68.6%, patient response to drug information services was 61.6%, and patient ability to repeat the information was 64.9%. The pharmacists are expected to have comprehensive knowledge and ability to provide drug information services. Also, they should be more communicative to increase awareness, willingness, and ability to promote a healthy life during the pandemic. Keywords: community pharmacy, drug information, COVID-19