Psychodermatology – a case for sensitization of pharmacists in Mumbai, India

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dc.contributor.authorMalkani, Ram H.en_US
dc.contributor.authorParekh, Komalen_US
dc.contributor.authorKarmakar, Sumanen_US
dc.contributor.authorSetia, Maninder Singhen_US
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-10T07:30:53Z
dc.date.available2023-08-10T07:30:53Z
dc.date.issued2023-04
dc.description.abstractBackground: Though studies have looked at the attitudes of dermatologists towards psychodermatology, few have highlighted the attitudes of pharmacists towards these conditions. Objectives: To study the knowledge, attitudes and practices of pharmacists towards the prescription of psychotropic medications to dermatology patients. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 80 pharmacists from Mumbai, India. We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire to collect information from pharmacists on their demographics, psychotropic medications in dermatological patients, knowledge about psychocutaneous conditions and comfort about dispensing these medications. Results: In our study, 37 (46%) of pharmacists received prescriptions of psychotropic drugs from dermatologists; however, 24 (30%) were not comfortable dispensing them. Sixty (75%) pharmacists felt that only psychiatrists should prescribe psychotropic drugs and 37 (46%) felt that they had a right to refuse to dispense prescribed medication; of these, 15 (19%) had actually refused to give medications to patients. Pharmacists who disagreed with the statement that 'the state of mind is associated with medical conditions', were more likely to discourage psychotropic prescription from dermatologists (29% vs 11%, P = 0.04). Pharmacists with experience of more than five years were significantly more likely to refuse to dispense medications (odds ratio: 5.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 25.83; P = 0.047). Limitations: We did not have a list of all pharmacists in Mumbai; thus, no sampling frame could be applied. Conclusion: Pharmacists do comment on doctors’ prescriptions, discourage certain medications and even refuse to dispense them based on their personal opinions. Since they are the last stop for patients between the doctor and the medication, their inclusion (in addition to dermatologists, psychiatrists and psychologists) in integrated awareness, training and care programs would improve the quality of care of patients with psychocutaneous disordersen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Dermatology, Jaslok Hospitalen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Clinical Research, Dr. Skin Pimples Pvt. Ltd.en_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsConsultant Dermatologist and Epidemiologist, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.citationMalkani, Ram H.en_US
dc.identifier.citationParekh, Komalen_US
dc.identifier.citationKarmakar, Sumanen_US
dc.identifier.citationSetia, Maninder Singh. Psychodermatology – a case for sensitization of pharmacists in Mumbai, India. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2023 Apr; 89(2): 261-265en_US
dc.identifier.issn0973-3922
dc.identifier.issn0378-6323
dc.identifier.placeIndiaen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/223121
dc.languageenen_US
dc.publisherScientific Scholaren_US
dc.relation.issuenumber2en_US
dc.relation.volume89en_US
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.25259/IJDVL_892_20en_US
dc.subjectCommentsen_US
dc.subjectdermatologyen_US
dc.subjectpharmacistsen_US
dc.subjectprescriptionen_US
dc.subjectpsychocutaenousen_US
dc.subjectpsychotropicen_US
dc.titlePsychodermatology – a case for sensitization of pharmacists in Mumbai, Indiaen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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