Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Care in Sexually Transmitted Infection Patients in Chusak Pharmacy, Muang District, Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

Background and Objective: At present, incidence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) was increased all over the world. In Thailand, STI patients often purchase medicine from drug store by their own judgement. This study was aimed to evaluate the pharmaceutical care provided for STI patients on cure rate, patients’s knowledge and satisfactions of pharmaceutical care.

Methods : This study was descriptive study. Data was collected at a private pharmacy (Chusak pharmacy), Muang District, Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand. Patients received pharmaceutical care from pharmacy student consisting of drug therapy and knowledge about sexual transmitted infection with pamphlet which were tested after pharmaceutical care, then followed up for 7 months.

Results : Thirty-three patients were enrolled in this study, consist of 15 cases of vaginal candidiasis (45.5%), 12 cases of vaginal trichomoniasis (36.4%), 4 cases of non specific urethritis (12.1%) and 2 cases of genital herpes (6.1%). Twenty-seven cases (85.3%) were cured and followed up until the end of the study. Knowledge scores were significantly increased from baseline after receiving pharmaceutical care (p <0.001).  There were 4 recurrent patients (14.8%), the most recurrence rate was found in patients with vaginal candidiasis (16.7%).  Adverse drug reactions were found in 11 patients (33.3%). The most adverse drug reactions were metallic taste from metronidazole (8 in 10 cases).  The average satisfaction scores after receiving pharmaceutical care was 4.4+0.6 points

Conclusion: The study showed that providing pharmaceutical care for sexually transmitted infection patients in community pharmacy would help to increase knowledge about the sexually transmitted diseases and satisfaction of pharmaceutical care.

Keywords: pharmaceutical care, sexually transmitted infection