Bridging the Gaps in Promoting Pharmaceutical Services for Visually Impaired Persons in Public Hospitals, in Bangkok: Pharmacists’ Perspectives

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the perceptions and performances of hospital pharmacists in providing services for people with visual impairment. This study surveyed 150 hospital pharmacists at all levels in public hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand. The results demonstrate that hospitals faced challenges in translating the principles of the Convention Rights of People with Disabilities into hospital policy guidelines and service plans. Due to lack of policy endorsement, pharmacists were left unsupported for critical resources, such as facilities, budgets, staff, and materials to provide services quality. The hospital management and disability cultural competency were facilitating factors that promoted equitable care for vulnerable groups.

Keywords:

• Hospital
• pharmaceutical services
• visually impaired
• culture of disability
• hospital pharmacy

Acknowledgment

This study was a part of the Ph.D. thesis of Prapatsara Pongpunpisand in the Social, Economic and Administrative Pharmacy (SEAP) Graduate Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University. We are grateful to all individuals who participated in this study and supported data collection.

Ethics Statement

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Mahidol University (COA.No.MU-DT/PY-IRB 2021/023.1702).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.