Assessment of clinical pharmacy services and their impact on fitness for athletes in china: evidence from a cross-sectional survey in xinjiang

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess clinical pharmacy services and their impact on athletes' fitness in less developed areas of China, with a focus on Xinjiang Province, characterized by its underdeveloped economy, sparse population, and limited medical resources. We evaluated the current status of clinical pharmacy services across 14 prefectures in Xinjiang, examining the provision in 710 public hospitals via a regional survey of clinical pharmacists conducted using a stratified sampling strategy. Methods: The survey encompassed various aspects including the scope of public hospitals, coverage of clinical pharmaceutical care tailored to athletes, demands for clinical service manpower focusing on fitness impact, infrastructure and technology support for clinical pharmaceutical care, billing practices for these services, and the educational and professional background of clinical pharmacists. Results: Key findings highlight the influence of gender, income, hospital level, daily working hours, human resource allocation, knowledge level of personnel, recognition of the importance of skill practice in clinical pharmacy, and duration of skill practice development as significant factors affecting career barriers for clinical pharmacists. Specifically, challenges were more pronounced among female pharmacists, those with shorter working hours, improper human resource distribution, inadequate knowledge, and lack of emphasis on skill practice. Conversely, high income and employment in superior hospitals emerged as protective factors against occupational obstacles. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the need for targeted improvements in clinical pharmacy services to enhance athletes' fitness outcomes in Xinjiang. By identifying key barriers and protective factors for clinical pharmacists, this study provides empirical evidence and policy recommendations to bolster clinical pharmacy practices, emphasizing the critical role of tailored pharmaceutical care in supporting athletes' health and performance in resource-limited settings.