jrnls.org logo
Submit

BROWSE ALL JOURNALS

SEE ALL 19 JOURNALS
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and ResearchNOW IN
Article

Role of Pharmacists in National Public Health Programs in India: A Survey on Pharmacy Students’ Perceived Knowledge and Attitude

Siva Prasada Reddy Maddirala Venkata1, Peter Kielgast2★, Ubaidulla Udhumansha3, Marja Airaksinen1★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Clinical Pharmacy Group, University of Helsinki, Finland.
  2. 2Division of Community Pharmacy, Proprietor Pharmacist, Taastrup Pharmacy, Taastrup Hovedgade 60, Taastrup, DK-263, Denmark.
  3. 3Department of Pharmaceutics, C. L. Baid Metha College of Phrmacy, Jyothi Nagar, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Thorapakkam, Chennai- 600 097, India.

CORRESPONDENCE

Peter Kielgast

Division of Community Pharmacy, Proprietor Pharmacist, Taastrup Pharmacy, Taastrup Hovedgade 60, Taastrup, DK-263, Denmark.

Siva Prasada Reddy Maddirala Venkata

Received: 03-12-2014; Revised: 22-06-2015; Accepted: 19-07-2015.

Volume 50, Issue 1 · pp. 51–62 · PUBLISHED 2016 · DOI: 10.5530/ijper.50.1.8

View on IJPER original site ↗

ABSTRACT

Objective: An attempt was made to explore the awareness, perceived knowledge and attitude of Indian pharmacy students on National Public Health Programs (NPHPs). Methods: This study was a cross-sectional classroom survey among final year D Pharm, B Pharm and Pharm D students in India. A survey tool was prepared to assess: (i) pharmacy students’ perceived knowledge and attitude towards NPHPs in general; (ii) perceived knowledge on individual NPHPs. The survey tool was distributed to 326 students from 5 randomly selected pharmacy colleges from South India. A brief introduction on NPHPs and study objectives were provided to students and were instructed to respond independently. Results: Of all respondents (n=326), 83% had opined that it was very important/important to include NPHPs in normal pharmacists’ training programs. In comparison to D Pharm and B Pharm, a higher proportion of Pharm D students estimated that they knew well/knew to some extent about NPHPs (55% vs, 39% vs. 68%, respectively, p=<0.001). DPharm and Pharm D students indicated higher interest in NPHPs than B Pharm students. Of B Pharm respondents 65% were willing to take up a professional role in NPHPs, whereas 82% DPharm and 85% Pharm D (p=0.001). Of all student groups, only 21% believed that their current knowledge was very much sufficient/sufficient to become active part of NPHPs. 81% students felt that they have very important/important role to play in NPHPs and 96% were willing to take up a professional role and want to learn more about NPHPs. Conclusion: Students had positive attitudes on pharmacists’ involvement in NPHPs, although their attitudes varied in different student groups, Pharm D and D Pharm students being most positive towards involvement in NPHPs. The study also revealed the need for increasing contents supporting NPHPs to all pharmacy programs, particularly to B Pharm program. There is scope for detailed national level analysis to identity pharmacists potential in NPHPs.

KEYWORDS

Open in new tab

REFERENCES

As published

Showing references and in-text citations exactly as published.

    Cite this article

    SELECT FORMAT

    Venkata, S. P. R. M., Kielgast, P., Udhumansha, U., & Airaksinen, M. (2016). Role of Pharmacists in National Public Health Programs in India: A Survey on Pharmacy Students’ Perceived Knowledge and Attitude. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, 50(1), 51–62. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijper.50.1.8