Open AccessConsumer perception of the community pharmacist and community pharmacy services in Malta
Author(s) -
Wirth Francesca,
Tabone Francesca,
Azzopardi Lilian M,
Gauci Marise,
ZarbAdami Maurice,
SerracinoInglott Anthony
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of pharmaceutical health services research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.244
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1759-8893
pISSN - 1759-8885
DOI - 10.1111/j.1759-8893.2010.00034.x
Subject(s) - pharmacist , maltese , pharmacy , stratified sampling , medicine , family medicine , nursing , community pharmacy , medical prescription , perception , descriptive statistics , clinical pharmacy , psychology , neuroscience , philosophy , linguistics , statistics , mathematics , pathology
Objectives We aimed to determine the perception of Maltese consumers of the community pharmacist and of the services offered from community pharmacies. Method A self‐administered questionnaire was developed and psychometrically evaluated. Fifty community pharmacies were chosen by stratified random sampling and the questionnaire was distributed to 500 consumers, 10 from each pharmacy, selected by convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics were undertaken. Key findings The majority of the consumers were very or fairly satisfied with various pharmacist characteristics, such as pharmacist efficiency when dealing with requests (95%), provision of instructions on how to take medications (94%), pharmacist discretion (91%), professional pharmacist–consumer relationship (90%), provision of explanations on how medications work (86%) and pharmacist knowledge and ability to answer questions (81%). They were least satisfied with the privacy in the pharmacy (69%). Consumers were in favour of the evolution of pharmacist professional services, namely the community pharmacist liaising with primary and secondary care‐based physicians (91%), provision of diagnostic testing (87%) and extended opening hours (83%). Conclusions Maltese consumers have a positive overall perception of community pharmacists and of the services offered from community pharmacies. They were in favour of the development of extended professional services.