WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Dr. Dinka Dugassa Iticha*

ABSTRACT

Background: Clinical pharmacy is an expanding patient-oriented, hospital role with the potential in maximizing patient outcome. The discipline arose out of dissatisfaction with old practice norms and the need for a competent health professional with a comprehensive knowledge in the therapeutic use of drugs. Clinical pharmacy services success hinges on the attitude of other health care providers toward the use of pharmacists in a clinical capacity. The finding about level of knowledge and attitude of HCPs would be an important input for concerned governmental or non-governmental institutions to strengthen Pharmaceutical care. The higher number of drug related problems would be solved with the establishment of Pharmaceutical care. Objective: To assess knowledge and attitude of health care professional’s toward clinical pharmacy services in Shambu General Hospital. Method: A cross sectional study design was used on 110 Health Care providers to assess their knowledge and attitude toward Clinical Pharmacy services. Result: This study showed that 66.9% of the HCPs have a ‘good knowledge’ and 67.3% of the HCPs have a ‘positive attitude’ about clinical pharmacy services. Majority of the HCPs has a good knowledge and a positive attitude towards CPSs. There is no significant difference between the HCPs knowledge of clinical pharmacy services in relation to the HCPs sex, age, profession, sex, and experience. But, the study revealed that there is a significant difference (p=0.009) between HCPs attitude and level education of HCPs. Conclusion and recommendation: Majority of the HCPs has a good knowledge and a positive attitude towards CPS. There is no significant difference between the HCPs knowledge of clinical pharmacy services in relation to the HCPs sex, age, profession, qualification, and experience. But, the study revealed that there is a significant difference (p=0.009) between HCPs attitude and qualification of HCPs. Attention should also focus to Hospitals, to implement ward based clinical pharmacy services well. Increasing inter-professional relationships between HCPs and pharmacists in medical and pharmaceutical education curriculum is also needed to enhance collaboration between physicians and pharmacists in patient care.