The main treatment for depression is medication, and pharmacists play a crucial role in the medication therapy management. However, inadequate training for community pharmacists (CPs) becomes the main barrier to effective treatment. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the depression training program (DTP) in improving depression literacy, self-efficacy, and communication skills as well as reducing stigma among CPs in Indonesia. A quasi-experimental study with a pretest–posttest control group design was conducted, involving 120 CPs in Yogyakarta. The CPs’ depression literacy, self-efficacy, and stigma in both intervention and control groups were compared. The ANCOVA test was used to analyze the data. The results showed that the DTP with a pretest as the covariate reduced the CPs’ internalized stigma (p = 0.000), increased their self-efficacy (p = 0.000), and improved the depression literacy (p = 0.000) compared with those of the control group. However, their communication skills required further improvement even after the training. This program effectively enhanced the CPs’ competencies in literacy and self-efficacy and reduced the stigma to providing pharmaceutical care for patients with depression. It can be appropriate for continuing education programs for pharmacists in Indonesia or another country particularly those with small or nonexistent mental health budgets.
Febrinasari N, Widayanti AW, Prabandari YS, Satibi S. Evaluation of depression training program for community pharmacists in Indonesia: A quasi-experimental study. J Appl Pharm Sci. 2025. Article in Press. http://doi.org/10.7324/JAPS.2025.233756
1. Chodavadia P, Teo I, Poremski D, Fung DSS, Finkelstein EA. Prevalence and economic burden of depression and anxiety symptoms among Singaporean adults: results from a 2022 web panel. BMC Psychiatry [Internet]. 2023;23(1):1–9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04581-7
2. Shalash A, Zolezzi M. The evolving role of pharmacists in depression care: a scoping review. Int J Clin Pharm [Internet]. 2024;46(5):1044– 66. doi: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
3. World Health Organization. Depression [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2024 Aug 8]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
4. McIntyre RS, Alsuwaidan M, Baune BT, Berk M, Demyttenaere K, Goldberg JF, et al. Treatment-resistant depression: definition, prevalence, detection, management, and investigational interventions. World Psychiatry. 2023;22(3):394–412.
5. Liekens S, Smits T, Laekeman G, Foulon V. Pharmaceutical care for people with depression: Belgian pharmacists’ attitudes and perceived barriers. Int J Clin Pharm. 2012;34(3):452–9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-012-9628-0
6. El-Den S, McMillan SS, Wheeler AJ, Ng R, Roennfeldt H, O’Reilly CL. Pharmacists’ roles in supporting people living with severe and persistent mental illness: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open [Internet]. 2020;10(7):e038270. doi: https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2021.3.2545
7. Shami R, Alam MF, ElHajj MS. The role of community pharmacists in depression management: a survey of attitudes, practices and perceived barriers. Int J Clin Pharm [Internet]. 2022;44(1):214–26. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-021-01337-9
8. Kesehatan K. Promosi Kesehatan [Internet]. Kementrian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia; 2023. Available from: https://promkes.kemkes.go.id
9. Kementerian Kesehatan RI. Situasi Kesehatan Jiwa DI Indonesia. InfoDATIN; 2019. p 12.
10. WHO. Human resources and training in mental health. World Heal Organ; 2005. pp 1–142.
11. Health IM of. Kemenkes Perkuat Jaringan Layanan Kesehatan Jiwa di Seluruh Fasyankes [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Feb 19]. Available from: www.sehatnegeriku.kemkes.go.id
12. Febrinasari N, Widayanti AW, Prabandari YS, Satibi S. Role and challenges of community pharmacists in managing mental health care in Indonesia: a mix-method study. Asian J Psychiatr [Internet]. 2023;89:103773. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103773
13. Febrinasari N, Widayanti AW, Prabandari YS, Satibi S. Perception, attitude and stigma of community pharmacists toward patients with mental disorders: a cross-sectional study. J Public Heal Dev. 2024;22(1):209–23. doi: https://doi.org/10.55131/jphd/2024/220116
14. Ng R, El-Den S, Collins JC, McMillan SS, Hu J, Wheeler AJ, et al. Community pharmacists’ views and experiences of delivering in-pharmacy medication reviews for people living with severe and persistent mental illness: a qualitative study. Int J Clin Pharm [Internet]. 2024;46(4):862–71. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-024-01720-2
15. Giannetti V, Caley CF, Kamal KM, Covvey JR, McKee J, Wells BG, et al. Community pharmacists and mental illness: a survey of service provision, stigma, attitudes and beliefs. Int J Clin Pharm [Internet]. 2018;40(5):1096–105. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-018- 0619-7
16. Crespo-Gonzalez C, Dineen-Griffin S, Rae J, Hill RA. Mental health training programs for community pharmacists, pharmacy staff and students: a systematic review. Res Soc Adm Pharm [Internet]. 2022;18(11):3895–910.
17. Rickles NM, DaCosta A. A consumer-led intervention to improve pharmacists’ attitudes toward mental illness. Ment Heal Clin. 2016;6(2):95–100. doi: https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2016.03.95
18. Wheeler AJ, Mey A, Fowler JL, Mihala G, Kelly F. A web-based mental health promotion intervention for pharmacy staff to reduce stigmatising and discriminating attitudes. Heal Promot J Aust [Internet]. 2018;29(3):328–36. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.33
19. Ng R, El-Den S, Collins JC, Hu J, McMillan SS, Wheeler AJ, et al. Evaluation of a training program to support the implementation of a community pharmacist-led support service for people living with severe and persistent mental illness. J Am Pharm Assoc [Internet]. 2023;63(3):807–16.e2. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2023.01.007
20. Wheeler A, Mey A, Kelly F, Hattingh L, Davey AK. Education and training for community pharmacists in mental health practice: how to equip this workforce for the future. J.Ment. Health Train. Educ. Pract. 2014;9(3):133–44. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-09-2013-0030
21. Murphy AL, Jacobs LM, Gardner DM. Pharmacists’ experiences with the Bloom Program application process. Can Pharm J.2021;154(1):42–51. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1715163520968120
22. Fujii T, Hanya M, Murotani K, Kamei H. Scale development and an educational program to reduce the stigma of schizophrenia among community pharmacists: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2021;1–13. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03208-z
23. Liekens S, Smits T, Laekeman G, Foulon V. A depression training session with consumer educators to reduce stigmatizing views and improve pharmacists’ depression care attitudes and practices. Am J Pharm Educ. 2013;77(6):1–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v22i2.64990
24. Liekens S, Vandael E, Roter D, Larson S, Smits T, Laekeman G, et al. Impact of training on pharmacists’ counseling of patients starting antidepressant therapy. Patient Educ Couns [Internet]. 2014;94(1):110–5. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2013.09.023
25. Febrinasari N, Kristina SA, Widayanti AW, Prabandari YS, Satibi, S. Mental health training programs for community pharmacists in low middle-income countries: a systematic review. Bangladesh J Med Sci [Internet]. 2023;22(2):284–96. doi: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms. v22i2.64990
26. Reis AC, Saheb R, Moyo T, Smith C, Sperandei S. The impact of mental health literacy training programs on the mental health literacy of university students: a systematic review. Prev Sci [Internet]. 2021;23:648–62. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-021-01283-y
27. Cates ME, Burton AR, Woolley TW. Attitudes of pharmacists toward mental illness and providing pharmaceutical care to the mentally ill. Ann Pharmacother. 2005;39(9):1450–5. doi: https://doi.org/10.1345/aph.1g009
28. Griffiths K, Christensen H, Jorm A, Evans K, Groves C. Effect of web-based depression literacy and cognitive–behavioural therapy interventions on stigmatising attitudes to depression: randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry [Internet]. 2004;185(4):342–9. Available from: https://nceph.anu.edu.au/research/tools-resources/depression-literacy-questionnaire-d-lit
29. Pourhoseingholi MA, Baghestani AR, Vahedi M. How to control confounding effects by statistical analysis. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2012;5(2):79–83.
30. Shoji M, Fujiwara A, Shimada A, Onda M. The relationship between community pharmacists’ social distance from and their confidence in interacting with patients with depression in Japan. Int J Clin Pharm [Internet]. 2020;42(6):1499–506. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-020-01109-x
31. Greenhill N, Anderson C, Avery A, Pilnick A. Analysis of pharmacist-patient communication using the Calgary-Cambridge guide. Patient Educ Couns [Internet]. 2011;83(3):423–31. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2011.04.036
32. Chong WW, Aslani P, Chen TF. Pharmacist-patient communication on use of antidepressants: a simulated patient study in community pharmacy. Res Soc Adm Pharm [Internet]. 2014;10(2):419–37. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2013.05.006
33. Alzubaidi H, Saidawi W, Alzoubi KH, Franson KL, Samorinha C, Goldstone LW. Mental health care education and training in pharmacy programs in arabic-speaking countries. Am J Pharm Educ [Internet]. 2023;87(10):100039. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2022.12.007
34. Kitchener BA, Jorm AF. Mental health first aid training for the public: evaluation of effects on knowledge, attitudes and helping behavior. BMC Psychiatry. 2002;2:1–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-2-10
Year
Month