Putative Role of Community Pharmacies in Case Detection of Dengue in South India: A Community Intervention Trial

Background: Before visiting a doctor, the majority of people in developing countries stroll to the community pharmacy to buy over-the-counter (OTC) fever medications. Objectives: The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the role of community pharmacies for dengue case identification. Materials and Methods: A community intervention trial was conducted among the pharmacy staffs in Tamil Nadu. Prior to intervention, pharmacy staffs are trained using modules. Community pharmacy staff members collected information on those with dengue symptoms who visited the enrolled pharmacies for OTC medications during the intervention period and gave it to the research pharmacists engaged for this project. Each suspicious case was followed up on by phone, and research pharmacists offered patient education. Before and after the intervention, community pharmacy staffs’ knowledge and their perceptions of dengue referral and health education were compared. The number of dengue suspects detected by pharmacy staffs, as well as the number of suspects diagnosed, was also documented. Results: The study involved 191 pharmacies in total. After the intervention, community pharmacy staffs showed a statistically significant (p<0.001) improvement in their knowledge, perceptions of referring dengue suspects and giving health education to the community. Using the research methodology, community pharmacy staff suspected 241 dengue cases. Dengue fever was diagnosed in 9 of them by physicians. Conclusion: The study model is deemed acceptable by all study stakeholders, according to the findings of the feedback analysis. Undiagnosed dengue cases in the community can be identified using the study methodology.