OBJECTIVES:

Pharmacists have an important role within the healthcare system, especially during pandemic period, such as COVID19. As a first step healthcare specialists they can offer some services to the patients including consultation, patient education and management of self-medication. Especially during an epidemic, pharmacy staff can assist patients by providing pharmaceutical care with over-the-counter drugs, reduce pharmaceutical errors and provide primary consultation during hospital overcrowding.

The goal of the study is to analyze professional abilities and information needs of pharmacists mainly during consultation about antiviral drugs.

METHODS:

This cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study was carried out among 285 pharmacists in Armenia. The study was quantitative investigation by using Questionnaire, which was developed based on the WHO standard questionnaire. Data obtained as a result of surveys were registered in statistical SPSS software package, version 12.0.

RESULTS:

According to the research, pharmacists update knowledge and get information about antiviral drugs and from the following sources: conferences(7%), congresses(5%), medical and pharmaceutical representatives(26%), colleagues(10%), Internet(15%), reference books and catalogs of medicines(12%), medical exhibitions(7%), on the website of health authorities (7%), specialized medical and pharmaceutical journals(6%), television(4%), other(1%).

The following factors are taken into account when consulting a consumer about antiviral drugs: experience of colleagues(5%), the convenience of the medicine form(25%), low cost(15%), no side effects and good tolerability(21%), recommendations of medical and pharmaceutical representatives(6%), recommendations of the head of the pharmacy(1%), own experience(25%), other(2%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Research shows that pharmacists don't use reliable sources for their information needs and don't rely on solid data to recommend drugs. So, it is necessary to pay attention to the continuing education of pharmacists, to regularly update their knowledge and professional skills particularly in the field of antiviral drugs and train them to respond to epidemic and other public health events.