Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study on Perceptions and Roles of Community Pharmacists in the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disorders in Northwest Ethiopia

Figures & data

Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Community Pharmacy Professionals, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021 (N=210)

Variables	Category	Frequency	Percent
Sex	Male	110	52.4
	Female	100	47.6
Age in (year): Mean (± SD)	31.6±(8.2)
Settings participants involved	Gondar city	146	69.5
	Rural towns	64	30.5
Work experience	<1 year	39	18.6
	1–5 Years	101	48.1
	>5 years	70	33.3
Qualification status	Pharmacy technician	96	45.7
	Druggist	73	34.8
	Degree holder	41	19.5
Monthly income (Birr)	1500–2999	63	30
	3000–4999	93	44.3
	≥ 5000	54	25.7
Type of CMROs respondents involved from	Drug store	91	43.3
	Pharmacy	119	56.7
Numbers of clients served per day	<50	115	54.8
	50–100	82	39
	>100	13	6.2
Working hours/day	≤ 8 hours	91	43.3
	>8 hours	119	56.7
Previously trained on the CVDs prevention and management methods	Yes	71	33.8
	No	139	66.2
Knowing whether there is always better prevention and management of CVDs	Yes	181	86.2
	No	29	13.8

Table 2 Percentage Distribution of Community Pharmacy Professionals’ Perception on the Risks, Preventions and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease

Items to Assess Perceptions on the Risks, Preventions and Treatment of CVDs	Strongly Disagree (%)	Disagree (%)	Neutral (%)	Agree (%)	Strongly Agree (%)	Mean (±SD)
CVDs are common and is increasing in Ethiopia	1 (0.5)	7 (3.3)	33(15.7)	107 (51)	62(29.5)	4.06(±0.79)
CVDs relates largely to obesity and sedentary lifestyles	0	9(4.3)	21 (10)	124 (59)	56(26.7)	4.08(±0.73)
More attentions must be given for lifestyles modification to general population	2 (1)	12(5.7)	18 (8.6)	115(54.8)	63 (30)	4.07(±0.84)
Patients with CVDs need to be early identified so that risk factors could be reduce	0	9 (4.3)	22(10.5)	123(58.6)	56(26.7)	4.08(±0.74)
Weight loss program decrease CV risks	2 (1)	11 (5.2)	14 6.7)	116(55.2)	67(31.4)	4.12(±0.82)
Physical exercises could decrease CV risks	3 (1.4)	7(3.3)	15 (7.1)	111 (52.9)	74(37.2)	4.17(±0.81)
Prescribed medications could be important for the treatment of CVDs	0	8(3.8)	14 (6.7)	114(54.3)	74(35.2)	4.21(±0.73)
Dietary modifications and herbals are used to decrease CV risks	4(1.9)	18(8.6)	31(14.8)	123(58.6)	34(16.2)	3.79(±0.88)
Alcohol restriction is used to prevent CVs risks	2 (1)	11 (5.2)	9 (4.3)	108(51.4)	80(38.1)	4.20(±0.83)
Early screening of patients is important to prevent severe outcomes	1 (0.5)	10 (4.8)	20 (9.5)	82 (39)	97(46.2)	4.26(±0.85)
Documenting drug refill history is important for CVDs evaluation	1 (0.5)	10 (4.8)	32(15.2)	105 (50)	62(29.5)	4.03(±0.83)

Table 3 Percentage Distribution of Community Pharmacy Professionals’ Involvement Towards the Preventions and Treatments of CVDs

Item Focused on Advising and Counseling Involvement of CPPs	Not Involved	Little Involved	Uncertain	Involved	Very Involved
Weight reduction by low calorie diet	3 (1.4%)	28 (13.3%)	18 (8.6%)	105 (50%)	56(26.7%)
Physical activity promotion	3 (1.4%)	22 (10.5%)	12 (5.7%)	103(49.1%)	70 (33.3%)
Alcohol consumption	4 (1.9%)	19 (9.1%)	15 (7.1%)	89 (42.4%)	83 (39.5%)
Smoking cessation	6 (2.9%)	16 (7.6%)	15(7.1%)	90 (42.9%)	83 (39.5%)
Salt restriction	3 (1.4%)	16 (7.6%)	14 (6.7%)	88 (41.9%)	89 (42.4%)
Cholesterol-lowering diets consumption	3 (1.4%)	27 (12.9%)	26(12.4%)	119(56.7%)	35 (16.7%)
Vegetables consumption	3 (1.4%)	32 (15.2%)	23 (11%)	102(48.6%)	50 (23.8%)
Increasing soluble fiber consumption	4 (1.9%)	33 (15.7%)	35(16.7%)	107 (51%)	31 (14.8%)
Cautions of OTC drugs or herbal products	6 (2.9%)	50 (23.8%)	24(11.4%)	95(45.2%)	35 (16.7%)
Review medication refill history to adherence	4 (1.9%)	34 (16.2%)	30(14.3%)	102(48.6%)	40 (19.0%)
Follow-ups on weight, BP and BG target goals	2(1%)	31 (14.8%)	12 (5.7%)	99 (47.1%)	66 (31.4%)
Screen & measure BP, weight and glucose level (BG)	7 (3.3%)	46 (21.9%)	20 (9.5%)	81 (38.6%)	56 (26.7%)
Dispensing home BP and BG monitoring apparatus	23 (11%)	61(29.0%)	31(14.8%)	57 (27.1%)	38 (18.1%)
On prescription treatment of CVDs	1 (0.5)	32(15.2%)	20(9.5%)	109(51.9%)	48 (22.9%)
Encourage patient treatment adherence	1 (0.5)	22 (10.5%)	19 (9%)	109(51.9%)	59 (28.1%)
Monitor patients’ treatment response	4 (1.9%)	50(23.8%)	33(15.7%)	92 (43.8%)	31 (14.8%)
Keeping medical records in the pharmacy	11(5.2%)	50(23.3%)	29(13.8%)	86 (41%)	34 (16.2%)
Refer patients to physicians if required	3 (1.4%)	27 (12.9%)	16 (7.6%)	89 (42.4%)	75 (35.7%)

Abbreviations: OTC, over the counter; BP, blood pressure; BG, blood glucose.

Figure 1 Mean involvement score of pharmacy professionals on counseling in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases in Northwestern Ethiopia from June to July 2021.

Table 4 Independent t-Test of Differences Among Categories of the Respondents in Overall Involvement Towards Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Diseases

Variables	Category	Overall Involvement Towards Prevention and Management of CVDs
		Mean (±SD)	t	P-value
Sex	Male	3.79(0.58)	0.50	0.621
	Female	3.75(0.60)
Setting participants involved	Gondar city	3.90(0.55)	5.21	0.000*
	Rural towns	3.47(0.56)
Type of CMROs respondents involved	Drug store	3.74(0.58)	−0.71	0.480
	Pharmacy	3.79(0.59)
Working hour per day	≤8 hours	3.69(0.62)	−1.75	0.083
	>8 hours	3.83(0.55)
Previous training on CVDs	Yes	3.82(0.59)	0.91	0.367
	No	3.74(0.58)
Do you know about the risks, the prevention and management of CVDs	Yes	3.76(0.58)	−0.44	0.663
	No	3.82(0.65)

Note: * Denotes significantly associated at p-value <0.05.

Table 5 Statistical Test (One-Way ANOVA) of Differences Among Categories of the Respondents in Overall Involvement Towards Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Diseases

Variables	Category	Overall Involvement Towards Prevention and Management of CVDs
		Mean (±SD)	F	P-value
Work experience: Years	< 1	3.69(0.69)	0.97	0.380
	1–5	3.82(0.53)
	> 5	3.73(0.59)
Qualification level	Pharmacy technician	3.75(0.62)	0.60	0.549
	Druggist	3.83(0.56)
	Graduate degree and above	3.71(0.55)
Monthly income (birr)	1500–2999	3.71(0.65)	1.34	0.265
	3000–4999	3.74(0.59)
	≥ 5000	3.88(0.48)
Clients served/day	< 50	3.77(0.58)	3.72	0.026*
	50–100	3.83(0.58)
	> 100	3.36(0.49)

Note: * Indicates significantly associated at p-value < 0.05.

Figure 2 Barriers of community pharmacy professionals to involve in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases in Northwestern Ethiopia from June to July 2021.