User satisfaction with services provided by a drug information center in Sudan.
OBJECTIVE
The services of the Ministry of Health Drug Information Center--Khartoum State were evaluated by assessing users' satisfaction.


METHODS
Four hundred and twenty-three subjects were recruited from center records using a systematic random sampling technique. Subjects who consented were interviewed by telephone using a specially designed semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive as well as comparative analyses were carried out. Differences between groups were tested using the Chi-square test when applicable.


RESULTS
The majority of users surveyed (89.6%) had called the center from within Khartoum State and 10.4% of users had called from other states. Of the enquiries, 36.1% were from pharmacists, 29.5% from physicians, and 22.3% from laypersons. The vast majority (93.1%) of respondents were educated to degree level or higher. Approximately one fifth, one half, and one third of the users surveyed had consulted the center >5 times, 2-5 times, and once, respectively. More than 90% of users rated the services provided as good to excellent and 94.7% declared their probable intention to continue utilizing the center in the future.


CONCLUSIONS
The center succeeded in satisfying and retaining its users by providing an acceptable quality of service.
Fathelrahman
Ahmed Ibrahim
AI
WHO Collaborating Center for Drug Information, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. afathelrahman@yahoo.com
Awang
Rahmat
R
Bashir
Abdelgadir Ali
AA
Taha
Isam Ali M
IA
Ibrahim
Hind Musa
HM
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013397:Sudan; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires