Pharmaceutical care program for Polymedicated elderly patients visiting Community Pharmacies in UAE during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study Protocol

Background: The profession of pharmacy nowadays is expanding from dispensing medication to evidence-based, patient-centered approach, in which optimizing pharmacologic therapy is the goal. Community pharmacists can optimize the overall quality of care especially in rural populations where people most of the time can’t afford to visit physician. Pharmacist caring of patients is the new pharmacist’s role. Community pharmacist can motivate patients to adhere to their medications. Medication review and patients’ monitoring contribute to resolve serious problems in health care system. Methods: This study involves four phases. Phase one implies training of community pharmacists. Phase two is quantitative and involves baseline evaluation of recruited patients. Phase three is the interventional phase. It is also quantitative and aims to assess the impact of pharmaceutical care service on elderly patients with polypharmacy in three selected pharmacies in Ajman and Sharjah through Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) questionnaire, and Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire for health status, and quality of life. These two questionnaires will be filled by elderly patients first upon signing consent form, before the pharmacist intervention, and in the two interviews following the intervention. Phase four is qualitative and aims to assess the experience of the participating community pharmacists and explore their perception regarding the pharmaceutical care service through focused group discussion. Discussion: This research is the first to be conducted in United Arab Emirates. Therefore, findings will reveal the possibility and preparedness of pharmacists to perform medication review and patients’ monitoring and follow up. Additionally, due to the unusual circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic, innovative ways will be used to perform such service.