Community Pharmacists’ Awareness and Perceptions on the Role of Pharmacists in the Treatment and Management of Rare Disease Patients in Korea
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Despite the increasing prevalence of rare diseases and growing medical expenses, community pharmacists’ role in rare disease management remains understudied in South Korea, even as the government emphasizes the importance of specialized healthcare professionals in rare disease management. Methods: An online survey was conducted among 75 community pharmacists in South Korea from May to June 2022. The survey assessed pharmacists’ awareness of rare diseases, current practices related to rare disease management, and perceived roles of community pharmacies in rare disease care. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: While most pharmacists (98.67%) were familiar with the term “rare disease”, only 33.33% accurately understood its legal definition. One-third (33.33%) of respondents had experience with rare disease patients, with an average of 7 patients per pharmacy. The main services provided were medication counseling (44.00%) and health supplement advice (28.00%). Pharmacists identified high accessibility (61.33%) as their primary advantage but cited lack of specialized knowledge (48.00%) and limited patient contact (56.00%) as major challenges. The majority (74.67%) expressed interest in rare diseases, with 40.00% suggesting specialized training as the most important factor for expanding pharmacists’ role. Conclusions: Although community pharmacists show strong interest and potential in rare disease management, their current involvement is limited by insufficient specialized knowledge and systematic support. Implementing professional education programs and establishing specialized pharmacy pilot projects could enhance pharmacists’ contribution to rare disease management, leveraging their accessibility and comprehensive healthcare capabilities.
Abstract
Despite the increasing prevalence of rare diseases and growing medical expenses, community pharmacists’ role in rare disease management remains understudied in South Korea, even as the government emphasizes the importance of specialized healthcare professionals in rare disease management. Methods: An online survey was conducted among 75 community pharmacists in South Korea from May to June 2022. The survey assessed pharmacists’ awareness of rare diseases, current practices related to rare disease management, and perceived roles of community pharmacies in rare disease care. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: While most pharmacists (98.67%) were familiar with the term “rare disease”, only 33.33% accurately understood its legal definition. One-third (33.33%) of respondents had experience with rare disease patients, with an average of 7 patients per pharmacy. The main services provided were medication counseling (44.00%) and health supplement advice (28.00%). Pharmacists identified high accessibility (61.33%) as their primary advantage but cited lack of specialized knowledge (48.00%) and limited patient contact (56.00%) as major challenges. The majority (74.67%) expressed interest in rare diseases, with 40.00% suggesting specialized training as the most important factor for expanding pharmacists’ role. Conclusions: Although community pharmacists show strong interest and potential in rare disease management, their current involvement is limited by insufficient specialized knowledge and systematic support. Implementing professional education programs and establishing specialized pharmacy pilot projects could enhance pharmacists’ contribution to rare disease management, leveraging their accessibility and comprehensive healthcare capabilities.