title: User satisfaction with services provided by a drug information center in Sudan.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Center for Drug Information, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. afathelrahman@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmed Ibrahim
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Fathelrahman
authors.forename: Rahmat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Awang
authors.forename: Abdelgadir Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.forename: Isam Ali M
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: Hind Musa
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: 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