| Abstract [eng] |
Karina Ivanovska's master's thesis, supervised by Dr. Švitrigailė Grincevičienė, Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Pharmacy Center. Title of the Master's Thesis: Peculiarities of Providing Pharmaceutical Services When Consulting on the Use of OTC Intravaginal Antifungal Drugs in Pharmacies in Vilnius City. Research Objective: To analyze the peculiarities of providing pharmaceutical services when consulting on the use of OTC intravaginal antifungal drugs in pharmacies in Vilnius City. Research Objectives: To determine the suitability and reliability of adapted scales evaluating the provision of pharmaceutical services regarding the use of OTC intravaginal antifungal drugs. To reveal the associations between the peculiarities of providing pharmaceutical services regarding the use of OTC intravaginal antifungal drugs and the frequency of consulting on the studied problem. To evaluate the associations between the peculiarities of providing pharmaceutical services regarding the use of OTC intravaginal antifungal drugs and the sociodemographic and pharmacy characteristics of pharmacy specialists. Research Methods: Anonymous questionnaire survey as a quantitative research method. The data were collected using the "ManoApklausa.lt" platform. The study participants were pharmacy specialists working in pharmacies in Vilnius City. The main focus of the study was on the attitudes and knowledge of pharmacy specialists. The anonymous survey was conducted in February-March 2024. The opinion of pharmacy specialists was evaluated based on the Theory of Planned Behavior questionnaire, using a 5-point Likert scale. The collected data were processed using the SPSS 26.0 program, employing descriptive statistical methods. Research Findings: In the master's thesis, the reliability and internal consistency of the repeated testing of all three scales of the questionnaire were relatively high. The coefficients ranged from 0,7 to 0,9.The frequency of consultations about vulvovaginal candidiasis was not related to the attitudes and subjective norms of pharmacy specialists. However, pharmacy specialists, whose pharmacies were more frequented by women with vulvovaginal symptoms, were more inclined to disagree that they should advise on the selection of OTC antifungal drugs because they felt a lack of knowledge, and differential diagnosis of other types of vaginitis could not be expanded during consultation. Walker et al.'s (2004) study revealed that pharmacists in the UK also expressed a positive attitude towards offering antifungal products to women suffering from vulvovaginal candidiasis and were eager to provide consultation on these products; however, more than half made mistakes in making the right decision. Older pharmacy specialists with longer work experience more often agreed with the view of pharmacy specialists on the benefits of using OTC antifungal drugs. Conclusions:1.The reliability and internal consistency of the repeated testing of all three scales of the questionnaire in the master's thesis reached 0,7-0,9 which is sufficient. 2.The frequency of consultations about vulvovaginal candidiasis was not related to the attitudes and subjective norms of pharmacy specialists.3.Older pharmacy specialists with longer work experience more often agreed with the benefits of using OTC antifungal drugs; the level of education obtained by a pharmacist or pharmacy technician was not related to attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. However, male specialists felt uncomfortable consulting women about the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Pharmacy specialists working in medical institutions and pharmacies with a higher number of pharmacy specialists viewed the benefits of OTC antifungal drugs more positively. |
