Table 1 Characteristics of eligible studies of pharmacy practices during the COVID-19 pandemic

Tortajada-Goitia B, et al., 2020 [15]

Spain

cross-sectional study

online survey

hospital pharmacists

hospital

185

March 14, 2020 – May 22, 2020

To analyze the status of the implementation and development of telepharmacy as applied to the pharmaceutical care of outpatients treated at hospital pharmacy services in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic

2-

Hoti K, et al., 2020 [4]

Kosovo

cross-sectional study

online survey

community pharmacists

community pharmacy

264

April 1, 2020– April 30, 2020

Community pharmacists’ perceptions of COVID-19 related preventative measures

2-

Hussain I, et al., 2020 [31]

Pakistan

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

academia, retail and community pharmacy, hospital, and drug inspector

1149

March 30, 2020–May 22, 2020

To investigate pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan

2-

Abdel Jalil M, et al., 2020 [32]

Jordan

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

hospital or clinical, community pharmacy, academia and research

449

March 1, 2020–March 31, 2020

To assess the possible roles of Jordanian pharmacists in minimizing the stage of community transmission

2-

ElGeed H, et al., 2021 [7]

Qatar

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

community pharmacy

311

May 28, 2020 – June 18, 2020

To investigate the current practices, response preparedness and professional development needs of community pharmacists

2-

Meghana A, et al., 2021 [33]

India

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

academia, clinic and community pharmacy

24

Not provided

To gain rapid insights from pharmacy professionals in India regarding their roles and preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic

2-

Bahlol M, et al., 2021 [5]

Egypt

cross-sectional study

in-person interview

pharmacists

community pharmacy

1018

April 8, 2020–April 19, 2020

To assess community pharmacies’ preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic

2-

Wang R, et al., 2021 [34]

China

retrospective, observational study

electronic health records survey

COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU

hospital (ICU)

33

February 1, 2020–March 18, 2020

To share professional experiences on medication optimization and provide a feasible reference for the pharmaceutical care of critically ill patients with COVID-19

2-

Sum ZZ, et al., 2021 [6]

Australia

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

community pharmacy

137

April 1, 2020– April 30, 2020

To explore the current activities undertaken across various community pharmacy settings in relation to the safety of the workplace environment for staff and patients

2-

Zaidi STR, et al., 2021 [35]

UK

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

community pharmacy

206

May 4, 2020– May 30, 2020

To survey community pharmacists to understand their protective practices, professional and general wellbeing, and the delivery of pharmacy services during the COVID19 pandemic

2-

Muhammad K, et al., 2021 [36]

Pakistan

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

community pharmacy

393

April 10, 2020– April 30, 2020

To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of community pharmacists regarding COVID-19

2-

Baratta F, et al., 2021 [13]

Italy

observational study, cross-sectional study

serological test, self-report questionnaire

pharmacists

community pharmacy

286

July 1, 2020– July 31, 2020

To analyze the directives provided to pharmacists in 2020 regarding preventative safety measures to be adopted; to determine the number of pharmacists who came into contact with SARS-CoV-2 and relate this to the adopted preventative measures

2-

Yerram P, et al., 2021 [16]

USA

retrospective, observational study

electronic health records survey

patient involved with clinical pharmacy specialist

outpatient clinics

4022

March 1, 2020– May 31, 2020

To present an approach to restructuring clinical pharmacy services and providing direct patient care in outpatient clinics during the pandemic

2-

Jovičić-Bata J, et al., 2021 [37]

Serbia

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

community pharmacy

392

April 1, 2020– May 31, 2020

To present work environment changes related to COVID-19

2-

Akour A, et al., 2021 [17]

Jordan

cross-sectional study

online survey

patients with chronic disease who use community pharmacies

social media platforms

431

May 1, 2020–August 31, 2020

To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown while exploring the role of community pharmacists

2-

Giua C, et al., 2021 [12]

Italy

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

community pharmacy

169

April 8, 2020– April 16, 2020

To describe procedures and critical logistical-organizational issues encountered by Italian community pharmacists and to collect the main requests reported by patients to pharmacists

2-

Elsayed AA, et al., 2021 [8]

Egypt

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

community pharmacy

413

August 1, 2020–August 30, 2020

To describe antibiotic misuse and its contributing factors; to measure pharmacists’ application of infection preventive practices during the pandemic

2-

Nguyen HTT, et al., 2021 [38]

Vietnam

cross-sectional study

mailing survey

community pharmacists

community pharmacy

1023

June 1, 2020– August 31, 2020

To survey the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacists regarding the COVID-19 pandemic

2-

Novak H, et al., 2021 [10]

Croatia and Serbia

cross-sectional study

online survey

community pharmacists

community pharmacy, social media platforms

574 (Croatia: 328, Serbia: 246)

June 1,2020–August 9,2020 (Croatia), July 1,2020–September 8, 2020 (Serbia)

To explore and compare the community pharmacists’ roles, practices, implemented safety measures, and psychological toll during the COVID-19 pandemic

2-

Wang D, et al., 2021 [19]

China

retrospective study

electronic health records survey

patients treated with pharmacotherapeutic intervention by a clinical pharmacist

hospital

349

February 5, 2020–March 10, 2020

To evaluate the usefulness of clinical prevention and control measures of clinical pharmacists

2-

Kambayashi D, et al., 2021 [3]

Japan

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

community pharmacy

1137

October 1, 2020– October 31, 2020

To conduct a nationwide survey among pharmacists to assess whether community pharmacists can contribute to reducing infections and the indirect secondary harm caused by COVID-19

2-

Yılmaz ZK, et al., 2021 [11]

Turkey

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

community pharmacy

393

May 1, 2020–July 31, 2020

To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and impressions of community pharmacists about COVID-19 and the factors affecting them

2-

Al-Daghastani T, et al., 2021 [39]

Jordan

cross-sectional study

online survey

community and hospital pharmacists

social media platforms

311

July 1, 2020– July 31, 2020

To analyze the role of pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic; to measure pharmacists’ attitude toward COVID-19 safety measures

2-

Kua KP, et al., 2021 [18]

Malaysia

cross-sectional study

online survey

pharmacists

community pharmacy

217

May 1, 2020– July 31, 2020

To examine community pharmacists’ views on their work environment, policies and preparedness for safe retail patronage to prevent the transmission of COVID-19

2-

Kassem AB, et al., 2021 [9]

Egypt

cross-sectional study

online survey

community pharmacists

community pharmacy

381

April 14, 2020– June 3, 2020

To evaluate the sources of knowledge and readiness of community pharmacists facing the COVID-19 early outbreak, to identify how far precautionary measures were applied in community pharmacies

2-

Elayeh E, et al., 2021 [40]

Jordan

cross-sectional study

online survey

residents

social media platforms

1179

March 26, 2021– April 16, 2021

To evaluate the type of drugs and treatments used to self-medicate/self-care during the pandemic, the reasons behind their self-medication, the sources of information and the factors affecting their practices

2-

Okuyan B, et al., 2021 [41]

Turkey

cross-sectional study

online survey

community pharmacists

community pharmacy

1098

May 21, 2020– May 29, 2020

To identify community pharmacist-led cognitive services and precautions taken related to COVID-19, perceived enablers and barriers related to pharmaceutical services and burnout level during the COVID-19 pandemic

2-

Mukattash TL, et al., 2022 [42]

Lebanon

cross-sectional study

online survey

home-treated COVID-19 patients

online questionnaire platform

279

October 2020

To explore the experiences and views of COVID-19 patients towards pharmaceutical care services provided during their infection

2-

Patel J, et al., 2022 [43]

USA

cross-sectional study

telephone survey

patients who received a pharmacist-provided COVID-19 test at a large-chain community pharmacy

contacted by telephone

622

May 1, 2020–June 14, 2020

To determine the local impact of community pharmacist-provided COVID-19 testing

2-

Alnajjar MS, et al., 2022 [44]

UAE

cross-sectional study

online survey

community and hospital pharmacists

hospital, community pharmacy

376

August 1, 2020–January 31, 2021

To evaluate pharmacists’ knowledge about and practice in the global COVID-19 pandemic

2-