Evidence map›Paper›PMID 19343530›Full record

SynthesisPharmacy world & science : PWS2009

The quality of private pharmacy services in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

Felicity Smith

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pharmacy world & science : PWS, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 108 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
108citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

108 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 187 citations in OpenAlex.

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  11. A Codesigned Approach to Develop Tailored Antimicrobial Stewardship Strategies in Bangladesh: A Social-Ecological Systems Framework Analysis.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026
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48 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author at 1 institution in 2 countries.

Felicity SmithDepartment of Practice and Policy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, Mezzanine Floor, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP, UK. felicity.smith@pharmacy.ac.uk
University of London · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aim of the reviewIn low and middle income countries private pharmacies are considered a valuable resource for health advice and medicines in many communities. However the quality of the service they provide has often been questioned and is unclear. This paper reviews the evidence regarding the quality of professional services from private pharmacies in low and middle-income countries.

methodA literature search (computer and hand searches) was undertaken to identify all studies which included an assessment of the quality of some aspect of private pharmacy services in low and middle income countries.

results30 studies were identified which spanned all regions in the developing world. These included 9 which examined the scope and/or quality of a range of professional services, 14 which assessed the quality of advice provided in response to specific symptoms and 7 which investigated the supply of medicines without a prescription. A range of methods were employed, in particular, questionnaire surveys with staff and/or clients and assessment of practice using simulated client methodology. Whilst many authors identified a potential for pharmacies to contribute more effectively to primary health care, virtually all studies identified deficiencies in the quality of current professional practice. In particular authors highlighted the lack of presence of pharmacists or other trained personnel, the provision of advice for common symptoms which was not in accordance with guidelines and the inappropriate supply of medicines.

conclusionThe evidence-base regarding the quality of professional services from pharmacies in low and middle income countries is limited, but indicates that standards are often deficient. If pharmacists are to contribute effectively to health care, the barriers to the provision of higher quality care and ways in which these might be overcome must be identified and examined.

Indexed as

Community Pharmacy ServicesHumansPatient Education as TopicPharmacistsPractice Guidelines as TopicPrescription DrugsProfessional RoleQuality of Health CareWorkforcePrescription Drugs

Identifiers

PMID19343530
OpenAlexW1987259351

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.