Exploring the Ethical Dimensions of Telepharmacy in Iran: A Focus Group Discussion Study

Background: Telepharmacy is the use of telecommunication technology to remotely provide pharmacy services, such as medication review, drug therapy monitoring, and patient counseling. It is particularly important for individuals who are physically or geographically isolated from pharmacies, such as those living in rural areas or with disabilities. With the COVID-۱۹ pandemic, the importance of telepharmacy has increased dramatically. However, the use of technology without considering its ethical dimensions can have negative consequences.  Objectives: This study aimed to explore the ethical dimensions of telepharmacy through focus group discussion (FGD). Methods: In this study, ۱۵ experienced and knowledgeable pharmacists in the field of telepharmacy were selected and engaged in focused group discussions in three five-person sessions lasting ۶۰-۹۰ minutes. Subsequently, the ethical concerns raised by the participants about telepharmacy services were extracted and analyzed. After data analysis, results on the ethical dimensions of telepharmacy and suggested strategies to address these issues were reported.  Results: After a thorough analysis of the participants’ comments, we identified ۱۰ general themes and their subcategories related to the ethical dimensions of telepharmacy. Throughout the discussions, we identified that the most controversial themes were broadly classified into four key ethical dimensions: patient-pharmacist relationship, privacy and data, impersonal care, and access disparities. Conclusion: Based on focus-group data from practicing pharmacists in Iran, we identified three empirically grounded ethical priorities for clinical telepharmacy: protecting the therapeutic pharmacist–patient relationship, ensuring data privacy and security, and clarifying professional liability. We recommend standardized informed-consent templates, platform security certification, and regulatory guidance to address these priorities.

کلیدواژه ها:

Telepharmacy ، Telemedicine ، Ethics ، Pharmacy