Abstract
Purpose
To assess the degree of satisfaction and expressed needs of pharmaceutical care services in patients with chronic diseases and explore the factors related to the needs from patients’ perspectives for the further development of pharmaceutical care service models.
Patients and methods
A cross-sectional survey of 220 patients (mean age ± SD: 61.3±13.1, male:female: 104:116) was conducted. The questionnaire was structured to measure patients’ degree of satisfaction and expressed needs using a 5-point Likert scale. Additionally, preferred duration, methods of service delivery, and willingness to pay were surveyed. Responses were analyzed using an ordinal regression method to predict factors that were related to pharmaceutical care services.
Results
Sixty-seven patients had experienced pharmaceutical care services. Their satisfaction levels were high in all categories; however, there were no significant differences between categories. The levels of expressed needs were similar among categories without significant differences. The preferred delivery method was a face-to-face conversation combined with being provided with written information (53.2%). The preferred duration was ≤10 min (70.5%). About 48% of the patients showed willingness to pay for the service. Education level and region influenced patients’ needs.
Conclusion
The satisfaction and needs of pharmaceutical care services was very positive; however, noticing only a third of patients experienced pharmaceutical care services, this may indicate a lack of awareness and less appreciation of pharmacists by patients. Details concerning patients’ awareness and the value of pharmaceutical care services require further investigation.
Acknowledgments
We thank our colleagues of DrugTEAM™ (Drug Therapy Evaluation and Management) group and all interviewees for their priceless efforts.
This study was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HI13C0731).
Author contributions
All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and critically revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.