Pharmaceutical Consultation in Hospitals at Northern Border Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Pharmacists' traditional position as drug dispensers has recently developed into a more active role in risk evaluation and management. Dispensing is often handled by pharmacy technicians in Saudi Arabia because pharmacists are so preoccupied with their managerial and administrative responsibilities. Pharmacists' meetings with patients are limited to medication dosage and frequency, as well as rare adverse effects and drug interactions. Methods: We conducted a quantitative questionnaire study in Saudi Arabia to look into the role of hospital pharmacists in patient counseling, the assessment of pharmacists' patient counseling opinions, and the possible determinants of personal consultation. Results: The number of patient inquiries was found to be very low, ranging from 5 to 20 per month. The amount of private pharmaceutical consultations was also poor. This finding showed that people trust pharmacists. Conclusion: Reorganizing the pharmacist's operations will help to enhance pharmaceutical consultations. This will help patients make better decisions about their medications and improve their quality of life.