Korean J Clin Pharm.  2022 Dec;32(4):288-302. 10.24304/kjcp.2022.32.4.288.

A Scoping Review on the Expected Role of Community Pharmacists in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis Across OECD Countries

• Lee IH
• Je NK

• KMID: 2537779
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24304/kjcp.2022.32.4.288

Abstract

Objective
Community pharmacists are frontline health care providers, but have been considered as underutilized professionals on a daily basis. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community pharmacy services and to evaluate new services that could be applicable.
Methods
We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies published up to January 10, 2020. Search terms consisted of keywords relevant to this review, including “COVID-19”, “community pharmacy”, and “community pharmacist”. This review targeted studies of pharmacist services provided by community pharmacies in OECD member countries during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Results
Twenty-seven studies were included in this review. Changes in community pharmacist services due to the COVID-19 pandemic were broadly classified into four categories. First, as the face-to-face services became challenging, various non-face-to-face services were being tried. Second, community pharmacists directly participated in the services to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Third, community pharmacists made efforts to support continuity of care for patients who experienced difficulties due to the reduced professional care as health and medical resources are concentrated in response to COVID-19. Fourth, community pharmacist services were emerging, targeting patients suffering from greater health inequality during the pandemic. Patients expressed high demand and satisfaction for the service of the community pharmacist, and pharmacists reported self-efficacy and professional pride.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, various community pharmacist services have been tried and received positive evaluations from patients in several OECD countries.

Keyword

COVID-19; pandemic; community pharmacy; community pharmacist service; satisfaction