Telepharmacy: A Potential Alternative Approach for Diabetic Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Ghina Nadhifah Iftinan,1 Nasrul Wathoni,2,3 Keri Lestari3,4 1Bachelor Program in Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia; 2Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia; 3Indonesia Test Trace and Isolation (InaTTI), Medication Therapy Adherance Clinic (MTAC), Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia; 4Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, IndonesiaCorrespondence: Nasrul WathoniDepartment of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, IndonesiaEmail [email protected] LestariDepartment of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, IndonesiaEmail [email protected]: The use of telepharmacy technology allows pharmacists to provide clinical pharmaceutical services to patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who need regular services during the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining distance and minimizing face-to-face meetings. The purpose of this review article was to identify the impact of telepharmacy intervention by pharmacists in diabetic patients by reviewing clinical outcomes and patient therapy adherences. A literature search was conducted through the PubMed database using the terms “telemedicine”, “telepharmacy”, “telehealth” and “telephone” in combination with “pharmacist”, ‘diabetes’ and ‘COVID-19ʹ or “Pandemic”. From a total of 67 articles identified, 14 research articles conform to the inclusion criteria. Telephone is the most widely used communication model (n = 11). All studies had a positive impact on clinical outcomes and three studies did not provide significant result on therapy adherence. The use of telepharmacy can be maximized and used on a vast scale, with the design of devices and technologies making it easier for pharmacists and diabetic patients to provide and receive clinical pharmaceutical services during the COVID-19 pandemic.Keywords: pharmacist, clinical pharmaceutical services, diabetes mellitus, telepharmacy, COVID-19

Keywords

• pharmacist
• clinical pharmaceutical services
• diabetes mellitus
• telepharmacy
• covid-19