Background: Significant benefit from involving community pharmacists in diabetes management
has been demonstrated. This study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes
of community pharmacists to diabetes care in Tripoli, Libya. Materials and Methods:
One hundred and forty six conveniently selected community pharmacists were surveyed
by 2 questionnaires. The first documented the available services and pharmacists'
perceived role in diabetes care. The second evaluated the pharmacists' diabetes knowledge
based on a validated 23 item questionnaire, the “Arabic Short Diabetes Knoledge Test”
(ASDKT). Results: The survey demonstrated inconsistent supply of different diabetic
medications. Insulin was not available throughout most of the pharmacies, whereas
Sulphonylureas and Metformin were more readily available. Urine and blood glucose
testing strips and glucose meters were available irregularly in about half of the
pharmacies. The role of pharmacists in diabetes care was mainly viewed as supply and
dispensing, dispensing and instruction and help and support. Diabetes educational
activities offered by the pharmacists included providing information on availability
of diabetes-related items, counseling on the use of drugs, instruction on use of glucose
meters and answering general questions about diabetes. The information provided was
rated as good and adequate by almost three quarters of the participants. The median
ASDKT's overall score for all questions was 16/23. General diabetes information score
was 9/15 and for insulin therapy-specific questions was 7/8. The sources of information
used in diabetic education were books and journals, through learning from colleagues,
product literature and attending lectures were thought to be helpful. Pharmacists
were prepared to enhance their education by meetings and lectures, Journals and books,
audiotapes and self-education. Conclusions: Community pharmacists offer a readily
accessible potential resource for diabetes education. Our survey of practicing pharmacists,
elucidated their readiness to participate in a multidisciplinary diabetes management
team. Incorporation of community pharmacists in any national diabetes educational
program is necessary.
Key-words:
Diabetes - Community Pharmacists - Diabetes Education
