Pharmacists as educators: Enhancing patient understanding and access to specialty medications through community workshops
1 Independent Researcher, Boston, MA, USA.
2 Life's Journey Inc. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
3 School of Nursing, University of Akron, USA.
4 Mediclinic Hospital Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
5 Independent Researcher, Nebraska, USA.
Review Article
Magna Scientia Advanced Biology and Pharmacy, 2024, 13(01), 001–009
Article DOI: 10.30574/msabp.2024.13.1.0053
Publication history:
Received on 03 August 2024; revised on 10 September 2024; accepted on 13 September 2024'
Abstract:
Pharmacists are increasingly recognized as vital educators within the healthcare system, particularly in improving patient understanding and access to specialty medications. This review explores the expanding role of pharmacists as educators, emphasizing their unique expertise in providing accurate, accessible information and their impact on patient outcomes. The paper highlights community workshops as an effective tool for delivering education, focusing on the structure, content, and accessibility of these workshops to diverse patient populations. Furthermore, it examines patients' barriers to accessing specialty medications and how pharmacists can help overcome these challenges through education, support, and coordination with other healthcare providers. The review also discusses future directions for enhancing the educator role of pharmacists, the need for supportive policies, and the potential long-term benefits of pharmacist-led education on public health and healthcare costs. Recommendations for implementing and expanding community-based education initiatives are provided, emphasizing integrating these efforts into broader healthcare strategies.
Keywords:
Pharmacist-led education; Specialty medications; Community workshops; Healthcare access; Patient outcomes; Public health
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Copyright information:
Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0