title: Inpatients' expectations and experiences of hospital pharmacy services: qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hospital pharmacists' have traditionally focused on the manufacture and supply of medicines. However, the increasing complexity and range of medicines and a greater awareness of medication errors has facilitated a change towards a patient-centred role. Given this movement, it is surprising that a search of the published literature shows very little research that evaluated patients' views of hospital-based pharmacy services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore inpatients' expectations and experiences of hospital-based pharmacy services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face semi-structured interviews with inpatients admitted to acute medical wards of three NHS general hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four inpatients were interviewed: 37 were male with average age 73 years (age range of 19-86 years). The predominate number of participants (62/74, 84%) being in the 65-80 years of age group. Thematic analysis of the data was driven by three themes; patients' expectations of the pharmacist's involvement in their treatment and care, the patients' experiences of any interaction that may have taken place and the patients' evaluation of their interaction with the pharmacist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a dichotomy of expectations and opinions from patients about the role of hospital pharmacists and the services being provided. As pharmacists' roles are developing towards a patient-orientated model in which pharmacists have direct contact with patients and their care, it is important to ensure that patients are aware of these developments to help them maximize the benefit they derive from their country's health-care system.
authors: School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
authors: Charles W
authors: CW
authors: Morecroft
authors: Clinical Services, Aintree Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Thornton
authors: Clinical Services, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Arrowe Park Hospital, Upton, Wirral, UK.
authors: Neil A
authors: NA
authors: Caldwell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: expectations; experiences; inpatient; pharmacy services
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