Gedif, Teferi(BPharm, MPH, PhD)Moges, Hiwot2020-03-122023-11-062020-03-122023-11-062019-01http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/21132Pharmacist‘s role is changing globally from drug compounding and dispensing to health promotion and patient care. Despite the fact that Ethiopia is facing a double burden from noncommunicable and communicable diseases, community pharmacists in the country are rarely involved in health promotion services. This study aimed to identify level of involvement, barriers for pharmacists to provide health promotion functions in community pharmacies and assess community pharmacists‘ beliefs, willingness and perceived ability in providing health promotion services in community pharmacies. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used to answer the study objectives. For the quantitative part, self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 315 community pharmacists who were working in Addis Ababa. Simple descriptive statistics and multiple regression were used to analyze the data. For the qualitative part, in-depth interviews were held with stakeholders from Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Food, Medicine, Healthcare Administration and Control Authority and Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Association. The study revealed that 58% of pharmacists interviewed were not rendering health promotion services in community pharmacies. Age and work experiences found to be associated with provision of health promotion services. In such a way that pharmacists between 22-27 years old and with work experience 3 years and less are more involved on providing health promotional services. Furthermore, majority of community pharmacists 283(95.3%) felt that provision of health promotion services in community pharmacies have favorable impact on preventing disease and promoting health. They are also willing 263(88.6%) to perform health promotional functions. Moreover, they felt they are good at promoting physical activity 223(75%), screening diabetes 219(73.7%), promoting healthy eating 217(73%), on the other hand community pharmacists perceived unable on utilizing the test kits for screening cholesterol 149(50%) and explaining physiologic harms of khat chewing 121(41%). Absence of guideline on pharmacists‘ health promotion role , lack of space to maintain privacy, knowledge and skill gaps were claimed to be barriers for rendering health promotion services in community pharmacies. Thus, community pharmacists‘ involvement in health promotion is low. It is recommended to develop guideline on health promotion role of pharmacists in the scope of practice, strengthen pre-service and in service training on health promotion and implementation of MoHlatest directives towards health promotion role of community pharmacists. ien-USHealth Services, PharmaciesThesis