Community pharmacy services and patient quality of life in Lebanon's socioeconomic crisis: Findings from the IMPHACT-LB study

Background: In crisis-affected settings like Lebanon, community pharmacists face mounting challenges in securing quality medications and supporting patient care. This study aims to explore the association between pharmacy services, pharmacist-patient relationships, and patient quality of life during Lebanon's ongoing socioeconomic collapse. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2023, using an online convenience sampling. Validated tools, including the 5-Level EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L) and EQ visual analog scale (EQ-VAS), were used to assess quality of life among a sample of 865 Lebanese adults recruited via social media platforms. Due to the absence of a national census, random sampling was not feasible, limiting generalizability. Results: Higher EQ-VAS scores were significantly associated with better financial well-being (Beta = 0.18, p < 0.001), high monthly income (Beta = 7.04, p < 0.001), regular pharmacy visits (Beta = 3.06, p = 0.035), and perceiving pharmacists as medication counselors (Beta = 5.43; p = 0.003). Lower scores were associated with a higher number of chronic diseases (Beta = −2.66; p < 0.001), obtaining chronic medications from the pharmacy (Beta = −6.20), frequent pharmacy visits for medical care or counseling (Beta = −7.00; p = 0.003), spending more than 10 min with the pharmacist for counseling about a medication and/or medical condition (Beta = −6.31). Conclusion: This study uniquely quantifies the association between pharmacist-patient interactions and quality of life in a context of systemic disruption. While previous literature has acknowledged pharmacists' roles, our findings demonstrate that their perceived counseling function and continuity of care are independently associated with improved well-being, even after adjusting for socioeconomic and health-related factors.