Community pharmacists’ ethical challenges in promoting
public health in Saudi Arabia: A qualitative study
Khalid Orayj1, King Khalid Univeristy, Saudi Arabia Abha 1King Khalid Univeristy, Saudi Arabia, Abha, Asir, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
There is little doubt that pharmacies in general and
community pharmacies in particular contribute
significantly to promoting public health. However, a
number of community pharmacy-related public health
issues have important ethical ramifications,
particularly in Islamic countries like the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, such as the administration of
contraception, weight-loss drugs, alcohol-containing
pharmaceuticals, and other issues. The purpose of this
study was to learn how community pharmacists see
the ethical issues that can prevent them from carrying
out their duty to advance public health. This
investigation is a conventional content analysis.
Throughout the course of 2020–2021, 20 community
pharmacists from Riyadh, Asir, and Jazan participated
in semistructured interviews. Using Graneheim and
Lundman’s conventional content analysis
methodology, data were examined concurrently with
data collection. The study was approved by King
Khalid University’s ethics committee in Saudi Arabia.
Three main themes emerged from the investigation.
The three main themes were: (1) the patient’s belief
that the pharmacist will reveal personal information
about them (confidentiality); (2) the patient’s belief
that relying on the pharmacist will weaken their faith
(religion); and (3) the patient’s belief that the
pharmacist’s advice is meant to increase the
pharmacist’s income rather than be in the patient’s
best interest (beneficence). Community pharmacies
should launch efforts that build public trust in them.
Also, Islamic clerics must to consider what they may
do to demonstrate that the pharmacist’s
recommendation doesn’t conflict with religion; rather,
it is mandated by it.
Biography
Khalid Orayj is an assistant professor at the clinical pharmacy department at King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia. He holds a PhD degree from Cardiff University on health and pharmacy outcomes. He published several scientific papers related to pharmacoedpemolgy, public health, and pharmacy ethics.