Table 2 Perceived challenges by pharmacists during COVID-19 pandemic in wards
No | Challenges | Never n (%) | Rarely n (%) | Occasionally n (%) | Often n (%) | Always n (%) | Mean (SD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Insufficient personal protective equipment (e.g.: face shield, surgical mask, N95 mask) | 40 (22.9) | 53 (30.3) | 55 (31.4) | 21 (12.0) | 6 (3.4) | 2.43 (1.07) |
2 | Shortage of staff from time to time due to quarantine | 8 (4.6) | 38 (21.7) | 64 (36.6) | 50 (28.6) | 15 (8.6) | 3.15 (1.01) |
3 | Inadequate medications for COVID-19 treatment | 35 (20.0) | 67 (38.3) | 46 (26.3) | 21 (12.0) | 6 (3.4) | 2.41 (1.05) |
4 | Frequent drug shortages for patient’s treatment | 17 (9.7) | 71 (40.6) | 49 (28.0) | 24 (13.7) | 14 (8.0) | 2.69 (1.08) |
5 | Frequent conversion of ward to manage Covid-19 patients (eg: covid ward to non-covid ward and vice versa) | 19 (10.9) | 28 (16.0) | 62 (35.4) | 52 (29.7) | 14 (8.0) | 3.08 (1.10) |
6 | Frequent changes in COVID-19 updates from the hospital management | 10 (5.7) | 42 (24.0) | 70 (40.0) | 44 (25.1) | 9 (5.1) | 3.00 (0.96) |
7 | The off-label and compassionate use of novel experimental agents | 30 (17.1) | 64 (36.6) | 62 (35.4) | 18 (10.3) | 1 (0.6) | 2.41 (0.91) |
8 | Limited internet connection to provide ward pharmacy service virtually | 25 (14.3) | 32 (18.3) | 40 (22.9) | 43 (24.6) | 35 (20.0) | 3.18 (1.33) |
9 | Difficulties in tracing patients’ own medication history within 24–48 h | 10 (5.7) | 39 (22.3) | 72 (41.1) | 37 (21.1) | 17 (9.7) | 3.07 (1.03) |
10 | Difficulties in reaching patients’ family members for medication reconciliation (family member not allowed to visit / patient is poor historian) | 1 (0.6) | 22 (12.6) | 71 (40.6) | 57 (32.6) | 24 (13.7) | 3.46 (0.90) |
11 | Family member unable to inform the patient’s medication list through phone as unsure about the name of medication | 4 (2.3) | 19 (10.9) | 49 (28.0) | 69 (39.4) | 34 (19.4) | 3.63 (0.99) |
12 | Communication barriers with patients or family members when wearing face masks and face shield | 16 (9.1) | 48 (27.4) | 52 (29.7) | 45 (25.7) | 14 (8.0) | 2.96 (1.11) |
13 | Communication barriers with patients or family members due to social distance | 20 (11.4) | 42 (24.0) | 63 (36.0) | 40 (22.9) | 10 (5.7) | 2.87 (1.07) |
14 | Delay in medication history clerking due to pending COVID-19 tests result | 19 (10.9) | 44 (25.1) | 50 (28.6) | 46 (26.3) | 16 (9.1) | 2.98 (1.15) |
15 | Difficulties to interview patient for medication history within 15Â min (reduce patient contact time) | 10 (5.7) | 51 (29.1) | 56 (32.0) | 34 (19.4) | 24 (13.7) | 3.06 (1.13) |
16 | Uncertain about the accuracy and completeness of patients’ medication histories traced solely from PhIS system | 5 (2.9) | 29 (16.6) | 61 (34.9) | 58 (33.1) | 22 (12.6) | 3.36 (0.99) |
17 | Limited assessment of patients in the ward with no participation in clinical rounds with the physicians | 24 (13.7) | 71 (40.6) | 42 (24.0) | 31 (17.7) | 7 (4.0) | 2.58 (1.06) |
18 | Difficulties to discuss with prescriber for pharmacotherapy plan of patient | 24 (13.7) | 83 (47.4) | 46 (26.3) | 16 (9.1) | 6 (3.4) | 2.41 (0.95) |
19 | Patient do not own smartphone to assess virtual counselling | 9 (5.1) | 41 (23.4) | 58 (33.1) | 52 (29.7) | 15 (8.6) | 3.13 (1.03) |
20 | Patient’s digital illiteracy causing difficulties in virtual counselling | 10 (5.7) | 26 (14.9) | 48 (27.4) | 61 (34.9) | 30 (17.1) | 3.43 (1.11) |
21 | Difficulties in counselling certain medication devices (eg: difficult to assess MDI technique due to face mask wearing) | 7 (4.0) | 17 (9.7) | 48 (27.4) | 64 (36.6) | 39 (22.3) | 3.63 (1.06) |
22 | Patients had problems understanding virtual counselling videos due to language barriers | 13 (7.4) | 31 (17.7) | 62 (35.4) | 51 (29.1) | 18 (10.3) | 3.17 (1.07) |