engleski

CRO PharmaDiab Program - Pharmacists Response to Diabetics Expectations in Croatia

Croatia has a population of 4.8 million and 116.295 diabetics. The average incidence is 2.35%. The “Croatian model” of organisation of health care for diabetic patients was included into the St. Vincent Declaration in 1989. Croatian pharmacists have been involved in the current National Program for the Protection from Diabetes Mellitus since November 1997. Some important steps preceded the implementation of the CRO PharmaDiab Program at the national level. The parallel holding of Fourth meeting for the implementation of the St. Vincent Declaration and EFPA/WHO training seminar on “Diabetes care” (Lisabon, Feb. 1997) as well as joint activity, the setting up of a pharmacist working group during the SVD Forth meeting, was of the crucial importance for our program. The Program was developed pursuant to the National Program requirements and following the guidelines of the EFPA project “Diabetes care” and was well received, particularly by the patients. A survey was conducted among diabetic patients to find out how satisfied they were with the pharmacists’ services and what they expected from pharmacists included in the diabetes care team. The results of the survey showed that diabetics expect more information about antidiabetic drugs, drug interactions, diet and physical activity. Most of them would like to be able to have their blood glucose and blood pressure controlled at the pharmacy, where they would also be provided with educational and informative materials about diabetes. Most complaints were about not being able to get all the required drugs and medical appliances all times and from all pharmacies. Thus far, we have implemented the Phase I of the Program, aimed at updating the pharmacists’ knowledge of diabetes and adequate pharmacotherapy. For this purpose, several two-day courses have been organised so far in conjunction with the “Vuk Vrhovac” University Clinic for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (Country and Regional Centre for Diabetes) - a scientific and education institution and WHO Collaborating Centre). About 240 pharmacists from all over the country have been included in the Project and have attended the courses. The courses were organised according to modern educational standards and comprised lectures, workshops and a test to evaluate the acquired knowledge. The evaluation was primarily aimed at determining the pharmacists’ interest in and willingness to take an active part in diabetic patient counselling. The results of evaluation showed a great interest, the pharmacist satisfaction with course organisation, and the need for further education.

Diabetes care; PharmDiab Program; Program implementation

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