Patient Preferences With Pharmaceutical Care: In-person Versus Digital Health

Digital pharmaceutical care, also known as e-pharmaceutical care or telepharmacy, refers to using digital technologies to provide remote pharmaceutical care services. It involves the application of digital tools and platforms to deliver medication-related services, patient counseling, medication management, and other pharmaceutical care activities. It allows patients to access pharmaceutical services conveniently from their homes or any location with an internet connection. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with limited mobility, those living in rural or underserved areas, or patients with difficulty visiting a physical pharmacy. However, it is essential to note that while digital pharmaceutical care provides many benefits, it may only suit some patients or situations. Some individuals may still prefer face-to-face interactions or may require hands-on assistance, especially for complex medication management. Healthcare providers should assess the appropriateness of digital solutions on a case-by-case basis and ensure patient privacy and data security when implementing digital pharmaceutical care services.

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Key information

Conditions

Patient Preference Behavior Health Behavior Patient Satisfaction Treatment Adherence and Compliance

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Pharmacy Bouchi, Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon

Who can participate

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients who took at least one medication in the past month
Patient visiting two community pharmacies

Exclusion criteria

Those refusing to participate
Those with severe hearing or mental problems

Treatment and study plan

survey

Behavioral

Developed questionnaire to assess the literacy of patients + another survey to assess their preferences regarding traditional versus digital pharmaceutical care

Primary outcomes

Patient preference

Time frame: through study completion, an average of 2 months

A self-reported questionnaire was developed and piloted on the first 30 patients visiting the pharmacies. Minor modifications were performed taking into consideration two expert reviews. It is available in Arabic (native language) and English based on participants' preferences. It includes 3 parts: the first part comprises the baseline characteristics of the patients and their medical history/habits; the second part reports patients' preferences, benefits and disadvantages of each of the outcomes (in-person versus digital health); and the third part assess e-literacy among them using the e-HEALS 8-item scale previously validated on the Arab population.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Lebanese University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Cross-sectional Study Addressing Lebanese Patient Preferences With Pharmaceutical Care: Traditional Versus Digital Health?

Important dates

Study start: 2023
Primary completion: 2023
Study completion: 2023
First posted: Aug 21, 2023
Registry last updated: Oct 3, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed