1. Pharmacists Working In Primary Healthcare Centers: Are They Ready To Expand Their Role? Sinaa Alageel, MSc, PhD; Norah Abanmy MSc Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University Background Worldwide the role for community pharmacists in patient care is expanding. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, pharmacists working in primary healthcare centers [PHCs] are in a position to make a strong contribution to improve patient care and hence patient outcomes. However, to date few published Saudi studies examined the type of services provided by pharmacists working in PHC centers. Furthermore, there is little information on attitudes and views of these pharmacists on delivering optimal pharmaceutical care to their patients. The aim of this study was to gain more information on the type of services provided by pharmacists working in PHCs and to assess their attitudes and views on several issues surrounding provision of optimal pharmaceutical care. The factors, which might hinder continued education of these pharmacists, were also examined. AIM OF THE WORK METHODS  Increasingly young Saudi pharmacists are being involved in PHCs.  The large number of patients seen by these pharmacists together with the nature of diseases presenting to them, create an environment to improve patients outcomes by providing optimal pharmaceutical care.  Pharmacists working in PHCs are in favour of expanding their role to provide optimal pharmaceutical care services.  Facilitating continues education programmes and formal training ensure a satisfactory level of competence.  The pharmacy curricula should start to emphasize more on community pharmacy practice as such practice serve a large number of patients. CONCLUSIONS The target population of the study was pharmacists working in the PHCs in Riyadh city, the Capital of Saudi Arabia. In total there is 62 PHCs in Riyadh. Data collected using a self- completion questionnaire, which consisted of four sections. The first section identified the number of prescription dispensed weekly and the number of patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, hypertension or diabetes seen by pharmacists every week. The second section: explored the type of services provided by PHCs pharmacists and their attitudes towards certain issues surrounding provision of optimal pharmaceutical care. The third section identified respondent’s exposure to continued education activities and barriers to do so. The fourth section obtained general demographic data of the respondents. The questionnaires were distributed to the pharmacists via the pharmaceutical care department in Riyadh Health Directorate Affairs [RHDA]. The completed questionnaires were returned to RHDA, where the researcher collected them. AKNOWLEDGEMENT TABLE 1: Responders Age Group and Years in Practice by Nationality RESULTS TABLE 2: Types of Pharmaceutical Services Provided by PHCs Pharmacists TABLE 3: Pharmacists Attitudes About Providing Optimal Pharmaceutical Care Services. Continues Eeducation We gratefully acknowledge the assistant of the pharmaceutical care department in Riyadh Health Directorate Affairs [RHDA] in distributing and collecting the questionnaire. Special thanks are extended to all pharmacists who took the trouble to complete and return the questionnaire. Thirty-four questionnaires were returned [response rate 56%]. Fifty percent of respondents were female and 58% of them were Saudi. a one missing response, b two missing responses The majority of responders [68%] dispense more than 500 prescriptions a week. Pharmacists see more than 60 patients a week with asthma, hypertension or diabetes. More than 20 patients a week dispense a prescription containing antibiotic. Work Activity Seventy seven per cent of responders [n=26] claimed to set a time weekly to read in a subject related to their professional area. Approximately 33% of responders (11/34) attend a seminar, workshop, or symposium in the last 12 months. Finding time to attend such activities was the most common barrier. Strongly agree n(%) Agree n(%) Unsure n(%) Disagree n(%) Strongly disagree n(%) PHCs lack appropriate knowledge/ skills to providing such a service.2(6)4(12)3(9)17(50)7(2) PHCs do not feel that providing such a service to be part of their job.-6(20)1(3)19(58)7(20) PHCs lack confidence to providing such a service.-2(6)3(9)11(32)17(50) Providing such a service would impair working relationships with doctors in the center. -7(20)5(15)14(41)7(20) Patients are always in a hurry and not interested in such a service.13(38)10(30)2(6)6(18)2(6) Providing such a service requires enhancing the clinical skills of PHCs pharmacists. 15(44)16(47)-1(3) Providing such a service requires increasing the number of pharmacists in PHCs18(51)8(23)5(1702(7)- Providing such a service requires a access to detailed patient notes.9(26)16(47)5(15)3(9)- Providing such a service requires a ddesignated closed counseling area.6(18)4(12)3(9)17(50)7(20) AlwaysSometimesRarely Patient education about dose, duration of therapy.32(94)2(6)- Monitor the compliance of patients with chronic diseases by checking the frequency of re-fill. 26(77)6(18)1(3) Monitor medication adverse reactions by asking patients the appropriate questions 7(20)20(59)6(18) Community education [structured as lectures].6(18)15(44)12(35) SaudiNon-SaudiTotal Age group 23-30150 31-40527 41-50077 51-60044 Total201333 a Years in Practice <5160 5-10213 >1011112 Total191231 b