Processes implemented and activities carried out by the pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review

Pedro Amariles, Mauricio Monsalve, Mónica Rivera-Cadavid, Mauricio Ceballos, Mónica Ledezma-Morales, Andrea Salazar-Ospina

To identify and summarize the processes implemented and the  activities performed by community and hospital-based pharmacists during the  COVID‑19 pandemic. A scoping review was carried out of the PubMed/Medline database  with the aim of identifying articles published until 30 June 2021. The PRISMA  recommendations for this type of review were followed. The articles included  were reviewed and classified according to their main characteristics and  outcomes, according to population, concept and context. The processes and  activities identified were grouped into three categories: those performed in  community and hospital pharmacies, those performed essentially in community  pharmacies, and those performed essentially in hospital  pharmacies. A total of 629 articles were identified, of which 454 were excluded  because they were unrelated to the object of the review and 81 due to meeting  the exclusion criteria. So, 94 articles were included in the analysis.  Most studies were conducted in Europe and the United States. During the  COVID‑19 pandemic, the processes implemented and the activities carried out  in both community and hospital-based pharmacies included pharmaceutical  care, efficient and timely management of services, information and education,  psychological support, pharmacovigilance and telepharmacy. Processes  implemented and activities carried out essentially in community pharmacies  were those related to the detection recommendations, and drug indications.  Finally, processes and activities essentially occurring in hospital pharmacies  included those related to participation in drug treatment research, drug  evaluation and guidelines development, and to managing off-label drugs. During the COVID‑19 crisis, pharmacists have led and implemented processes aimed at mitigating the impact of the pandemic on  the population´s health. Pharmaceutical care, efficient and  timely management of services, information and education, psychological  support, pharmacovigilance and telepharmacy, both in community and hospital pharmacies, are the main processes implemented by pharmacists  during the COVID‑19 pandemic. These processes and activities, in addition to contributing to the control, prevention and effective and safe treatment of  COVID‑19; have ensured the implementation of biosecurity measures, proper  dispensing of medication, the drug rational use, and the provision of evidence- based information and education.