ABSTRACT
Objective : Recently, a directive that all pharmacies should have a family pharmacist by 2025 was announced. However, this directive has not been clearly communicated to patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of patient information handouts on the number of patients who use the new family pharmacist system, using the evaluation index of family pharmacies (Key Performance Indicator [KPI]). Methods : We created and distributed patient handouts about family pharmacists. The number of new family pharmacists, the number of consultations, and the consultation content from June-August 2021 (pre-distribution period) and September-November 2021 (distribution period) were examined to compare the KPI group and non-KPI group. A cutoff score of the KPI index was used to determine compliant vs. non-compliant. Results : The median (interquartile range) number of new patients in the KPI group (7 pharmacies) increased from 0 (0.0, 1.5) in the pre-distribution period to 4 (2.5, 10.5) in the distribution period (P＝0.019). In the non-KPI group (4 pharmacies) it was 0 (0.0, 0.0) both before and after distribution. The number of consultations about unused prescribed medications and health increased (P＝0.031 and 0.047, respectively) in the KPI group during the distribution period, with no change in the non-KPI group. Conclusion : The use of handouts led to an increase in users of the family pharmacist system in the KPI group. The use of handouts at KPI pharmacies will help patients understand the pharmacist profession and the benefits of the family pharmacist system.
ABSTRACT
【Objective】 Nowadays, the pharmacist’s work changed from product-centered to patient-centered care. In this research, we make it clear through patient’s talk what a patient expects of a family pharmacist and a pharmacy. We think it is utilized to construct a communication standard required for family pharmacists. 【Method】 Focus group interviews were conducted with 3 groups of 11 patients who utilize pharmacies, recruited through snowball sampling. Interview data were categorized using qualitative analysis method. 【Results】 As a result of analysis, 7 categories and 43 subcategories were generated. Based on these, a diagram was created representing the relationships between categories. 【Discussion】 The generated categories indicated “factors influencing patient’s relationship with pharmacists” and subcategories indicated “requests to or expectations from pharmacists by patients.” Many of them overlapped with the image of “family pharmacist/pharmacy” depicted in the “Pharmacy Vision for Patients” indicated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2017. Meanwhile, patients wanted attitude, ethics, and sense of mission as basic qualifications originally required in a medical professional. Moreover, the research showed broader viewpoints and expectations for advanced communication skills such as support of patient’s self-determination of medication, relationship between the patient and the physician, and consideration of social and economic background of the patient.
ABSTRACT
【Objective】 Nowadays, the pharmacist’s work changed from product-centered to patient-centered care. In this research, we make it clear through patient’s talk what a patient expects of a family pharmacist and a pharmacy. We think it is utilized to construct a communication standard required for family pharmacists. 【Method】 Focus group interviews were conducted with 3 groups of 11 patients who utilize pharmacies, recruited through snowball sampling. Interview data were categorized using qualitative analysis method. 【Results】 As a result of analysis, 7 categories and 43 subcategories were generated. Based on these, a diagram was created representing the relationships between categories. 【Discussion】 The generated categories indicated “factors influencing patient’s relationship with pharmacists” and subcategories indicated “requests to or expectations from pharmacists by patients.” Many of them overlapped with the image of “family pharmacist/pharmacy” depicted in the “Pharmacy Vision for Patients” indicated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2017. Meanwhile, patients wanted attitude, ethics, and sense of mission as basic qualifications originally required in a medical professional. Moreover, the research showed broader viewpoints and expectations for advanced communication skills such as support of patient’s self-determination of medication, relationship between the patient and the physician, and consideration of social and economic background of the patient.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective: </b>As a “family pharmacy and pharmacist,” high-quality medical service is demanded. Many patient satisfaction investigations are performed to evaluate community pharmacies, but it has been impossible until now to do so using an improvement index of the medical quality. Therefore, I investigated the influence and evaluation structure of two evaluation concepts regarding quality of medical service and patient satisfaction and intention to use again, which becomes the important key as a “family” pharmacy.<br><b>Methods: </b>I used anonymous patient survey data gathered for the purpose of duties improvement in July 2009. I subjected the responses to factor and covariance structure analyses.<br><b>Results: </b>Dates for four dimensions were obtained for factor analysis. As a whole, covariance structure analysis showed that, in terms of privacy and only for service quality, entertainment primarily influenced satisfaction. The ingestion instruction had a big effect on both sides. General satisfaction was also substantially influenced by service quality. The difference in influence degree was confirmed at each parameter.<br><b>Conclusion: </b>It was found that not only satisfaction but also quality of service were equally demanded in community pharmacies. It is necessary to increase these because most are influenced by ingestion instruction as a factor in service quality. However, future investigation is necessary to clarify the detailed ingestion instruction contents.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objectives: </b>First steps to promote the proper use of medicines in remote islands and rural areas are as follows: (1) recognition of the profession of “pharmacist” from secondary-remote-island residents who do not have a pharmacy or drugstore or the opportunity for pharmacist contact and (2) an understanding by remote-island residents of the advantages of having a “family pharmacist.”<br><b>Methods: </b>Repeated “medicine information and consultation sessions” for secondary-remote-island residents of Japan’s Nagasaki Prefecture were held. Residents were then surveyed for changes in awareness of or demand for pharmacists and the nature of such changes.<br><b>Results: </b>Before the information sessions, 29.7% of residents did not recognize the profession of pharmacy, but the extent of their recognition increased after information sessions were concluded. They were asked “Who explains medicines in a way that is easy to understand ?”; more than half responded “doctors” before the information session, but after information sessions were concluded, those who said “pharmacists” increased.<br><b>Conclusion: </b>Conducting “medicine information and consultation sessions” for residents of secondary-remote islands and rural areas enabled them to understand the profession of pharmacy. The initiatives in the present study are first steps toward promoting proper use of medicines by residents of remote islands and rural areas who use “family pharmacies/pharmacists.”