Pharmacists' role in managing sexually transmitted infections:: policy issues and options for Ghana
Pharmacists' role in managing sexually transmitted infections:: policy issues and options for Ghana
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DOI：
10.1093/heapol/16.2.152
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发表时间：
2001-06-01
影响因子：
3.2
通讯作者：
Adjei, S
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Mayhew, S;Nzambi, K;Adjei, S
由于认识到许多公共部门服务部门正在经历的困难，关于扩大药剂师在卫生保健中的作用的辩论越来越多。人们认为药剂师的可及性和保密性使他们对病人特别有吸引力，可以用来管理可能导致污名化的性传播感染等健康问题，尽管人们对这一问题的兴趣日益浓厚，但对药剂师在低收入国家的作用的分析却很少有记录。在加纳，政府承认药剂师是寻求性传播感染治疗的人的首选。进行了一项研究，调查药剂师在大阿克拉地区的STI管理中发挥的作用。根据这些调查结果，制定、执行和评价了培训计划。本文介绍了这项操作研究的结果，并考虑了它们对决定药剂师应在多大程度上以何种方式参与加纳和其他类似国家环境中的性传播感染管理的影响。这些研究结果表明，药剂师在有效管理性传播感染方面发挥着至关重要的作用，特别是在尿道分泌物的管理方面。他们可能需要限制生殖器溃疡的管理，将客户转介给实验室和医生。它们也是目前未充分利用的开展预防活动的机会。监管和质量保证问题需要由药学和医疗专业人员共同解决。
The debate about extending the role of pharmacists in health care is growing in recognition of the ongoing difficulties experienced by many public sector services. The perceived accessibility and confidentiality of pharmacists makes them particularly attractive to patients for the management of health problems such as sexually transmitted infections (STI) that may lead to stigmatization.Despite growing interest in the subject, there are few documented analyses of the role of pharmacists in low-income countries. In Ghana, pharmacists are acknowledged by the government to be the preferred option for people seeking treatment for STI. A study was conducted to investigate the current role played by pharmacists in Greater Accra Region in the management of STI. On the basis of these findings, training schemes were developed, implemented and evaluated. This paper presents the findings of this operation-research and considers their implications for deciding to what extent and in what way pharmacists should be involved in managing STI in Ghana and other similar country settings.These findings suggest that pharmacists have a crucial role in effective management of STI, particularly in the management of urethral discharge. They may need to limit their management of genital ulcer to referring customers to laboratories and medical practitioners. They also represent a currently under-utilized opportunity for preventive activities. Regulation and quality assurance issues need to be addressed by both pharmacy and medical professions.