Improving the health of the community surrounding pharmacies through SmartOTC and enhancing the role of pharmacists

Ikhwan Yuda Kusuma; Galih Samodra; Susilo Rini; Muhammad  Firmansyah; Nelly Maryanti; Inti Kalun Na'Fiah

doi:10.56359/pharmgen.v5i3.1195

Authors

Ikhwan Yuda Kusuma Universitas Harapan Bangsa, Purwokerto, Indonesia
Galih Samodra Universitas Harapan Bangsa, Purwokerto, Indonesia
Susilo Rini Universitas Harapan Bangsa, Purwokerto, Indonesia
Muhammad Firmansyah Universitas Harapan Bangsa, Purwokerto, Indonesia
Nelly Maryanti Universitas Harapan Bangsa, Purwokerto, Indonesia
Inti Kalun Na'Fiah Universitas Harapan Bangsa, Purwokerto, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56359/pharmgen.v5i3.1195

Keywords:

clinical decision support systems, common cold, community pharmacy, pharmacists, self medication

Abstract

Introduction: Community pharmacists are frequently the first healthcare professionals consulted for minor illnesses such as the common cold. However, limited consultation time and inconsistent assessment practices may affect the quality of self-medication services.

Purpose: This study evaluated whether structured SmartOTC training improved pharmacists’ knowledge, perceived task ease, and ability to complete application-based clinical tasks.

Method: A one-group pretest–post-test study was conducted among 23 licensed community pharmacists from partner pharmacies in Purwokerto, Indonesia, recruited using convenience sampling. The intervention included education, application demonstration, guided practice, independent case simulation, and post-intervention evaluation. Knowledge was assessed using a 20-item questionnaire, perceived task ease using seven Single Ease Question items, and operational performance using 16 predefined tasks. Data were presented as means, standard deviations, frequencies, percentages, and 95% confidence intervals. Pretest and post-test outcomes were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with rank-biserial correlation used to estimate effect size.

Results: All participants completed the program. Knowledge scores increased from 58.91 ± 4.99 to 79.78 ± 10.82, with a mean change of 20.87 points (95% CI: 16.32–25.42). Overall SEQ scores improved from 4.98 ± 0.50 to 5.98 ± 0.50, with a mean change of 1.00 point (95% CI: 0.80–1.20). Task success increased from 61.41 ± 11.41% to 94.57 ± 6.87%, representing a 33.15-percentage-point improvement (95% CI: 25.98–40.32). All changes were significant (p < 0.001; rank-biserial r = 0.99).

Conclusion: Structured SmartOTC training was feasible and substantially improved pharmacists’ knowledge, usability perceptions, and task performance. This approach may strengthen digital competence, standardize common-cold self-medication services, and support safer routine pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies.

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