Table 3 Perception of the role of pharmacists, experience with community pharmacists, preference for treatment of minor illnesses, and expectations of pharmacists
From: Assessing consumers’ perception and demand on the community pharmacists’ dispensing
Questions | Frequency, n | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
Are you aware of the role of a pharmacist? | ||
Yes | 179 | 80.6 |
No | 43 | 19.4 |
What do you think pharmacists do? | ||
Dispense medicines | 194 | 87.4 |
Counselling patients regarding their medications | 169 | 76.1 |
Collaborate with doctors in monitoring patient medication use | 126 | 56.8 |
Buying and selling medicines | 108 | 48.6 |
Monitor patient medication therapy | 81 | 36.5 |
Health promotion | 72 | 32.4 |
Medication delivery service | 63 | 28.4 |
Home medicine review | 48 | 21.6 |
Businessmen | 24 | 10.8 |
Policymakers | 17 | 7.7 |
I do not know | 1 | 0.5 |
All of the above | 1 | 0.5 |
Do the pharmacists explain the use of the medicines, the possible side effects, and any warnings when dispensing? | ||
Yes | 174 | 78.4 |
No | 48 | 21.6 |
Have you ever asked pharmacists for advice regarding your medicine and condition? | ||
Yes | 119 | 53.6 |
No | 103 | 46.4 |
Do pharmacists provide counselling services? | ||
Yes | 66 | 29.7 |
No | 156 | 70.3 |
If your answer was yes to the previous question, please rate your satisfaction with the counselling services (n = 65) | ||
Very satisfied | 7 | 10.8 |
Satisfied | 25 | 38.5 |
Neutral | 22 | 33.8 |
Unsatisfied | 8 | 12.3 |
Very unsatisfied | 3 | 4.6 |
Do the pharmacists answer your queries well? | ||
Yes | 182 | 82 |
No | 40 | 18 |
Where do you normally go when you have a minor illness (e.g., cough and cold, diarrhea, constipation)? | ||
To see a doctor in the hospital or private clinic | 117 | 52.7 |
To purchase OTC medicines from the pharmacy nearby (e.g., Guardian) | 91 | 41 |
Others | 14 | 6.3 |
What are your expectations from a pharmacist | ||
Able to tell me about the medication (use, strength, dosage, how to take it) | 201 | 90.5 |
Able to tell me about the possible side effects and potential warnings | 197 | 88.7 |
Should ask me all relevant questions (medical conditions, medications, allergies etc.) before dispensing the medication | 149 | 67.1 |
Able to tell me how to use my medical devices | 148 | 66.7 |
Able to answer all my queries | 141 | 63.5 |
Able to detect any medication error and prevent them from happening | 141 | 63.5 |
Able to respect my confidentiality | 136 | 61.3 |
Able to contact my doctor if there is anything they need to clarify for my prescription | 127 | 57.2 |
Should be an expert in OTC medicines | 102 | 45.9 |
Able to offer some lifestyle advice related to my condition | 87 | 39.2 |
Others | 5 | 2.3 |