Table 2 Preference for medical treatment, services, and visits to community pharmacies
From: Assessing consumers’ perception and demand on the community pharmacists’ dispensing
Questions | Frequency, n | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
Preferred place to receive medical treatment | ||
Public/government | 108 | 48.6 |
Private clinic | 97 | 43.7 |
Private pharmacies | 17 | 7.7 |
Why? | ||
My doctor asked me to | 7 | 3.2 |
I am used to it | 76 | 34.2 |
People around me visited there | 11 | 5 |
Less waiting time | 53 | 23.9 |
It is more convenient for me | 54 | 24.3 |
Others | 21 | 9.5 |
How often do you visit the community pharmacy? | ||
Once a week | 3 | 1.4 |
Once a month | 16 | 7.2 |
Once every few months | 203 | 91.4 |
When was the last time you visited the pharmacy? | ||
A week ago | 24 | 10.8 |
Few weeks ago | 25 | 11.3 |
Last month | 27 | 12.2 |
Few months ago | 90 | 40.5 |
A year ago | 16 | 7.2 |
More than a year ago | 40 | 18 |
What is your purpose of visiting the community pharmacy? | ||
Collect medicines from prescription | 104 | 46.8 |
Purchase over-the-counter medications | 92 | 41.4 |
Counselling for medication uses | 8 | 3.6 |
Ask for advice on medications | 9 | 4.1 |
Others | 9 | 4.1 |
Would you be willing to use other services provided by the pharmacy, other than the ones stated above? | ||
Yes | 117 | 52.7 |
No | 11 | 5 |
Maybe | 94 | 42.3 |
If yes, what are the services you wish to receive from the community pharmacies? (n = 117) | ||
Screening services (e.g., blood pressure, blood glucose) | 85 | 72.6 |
Treating minor illnesses (e.g., cough and cold, diarrhoea, constipation) | 79 | 67.5 |
Skin care management | 75 | 64.1 |
Supplements and herbal medicine recommendation/counselling | 59 | 50.4 |
Medicine use review | 53 | 45.3 |
Lifestyle advice | 51 | 43.6 |
Vaccination | 51 | 43.6 |
Follow-up services | 48 | 41 |
Weight management program | 47 | 40.2 |
Osteoporosis (bone problems) | 29 | 24.8 |
Asthma care | 26 | 22.2 |
Smoking cessation | 15 | 12.8 |
Others | 5 | 4.3 |