title: Assessment of satisfaction with pharmaceutical services in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in outpatient HIV treatment setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The patient's perception and satisfaction are increasingly considered as a useful factor in the assessment of competency of health care providers and quality of care. However, these patient focused assessments are largely ignored when assessing health care outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study assessed the perception and satisfaction of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) with pharmaceutical services received in outpatient HIV treatment settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen HIV treatment centres in Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional survey included 2,700 patients randomly selected from 26,319 HIV patients on ART, who received pharmaceutical services in the study setting. A study-specific Likert-type instrument was administered to the participants at point of exit from the pharmacy. Midpoint of the 5-point scale was computed and scores above it were regarded as positive while below as negative. Chi-square was used for inferential statistics. All reported p values were 2-sided at 95 % confidence interval (CI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2,700 patients sampled, data from 1,617 (59.9 %) were valid for analysis; 62.3 % were aged 26-40 years and 65.4 % were females. The participants had received pharmaceutical services for a mean duration of 25.2 (95 % CI 24.3-26.1) months. Perception of participants regarding the appearance of pharmacy was positive while that regarding the pharmacists' efforts to solve patients' medication related problems was negative. The participants' rating of satisfaction with the waiting time to access pharmaceutical services was negative; the satisfaction decreases with increasing waiting time. However, the satisfaction with the overall quality of pharmaceutical services received was rated as positive; 90.0 % reported that they got the kind of pharmaceutical services they wanted; 98.2 % would come back to the pharmacy if they were to seek help again and would recommend services to others. The level of satisfaction was found to be associated with educational status of the participants (p = 0.006) unlike age, sex, marital and employment status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The satisfaction with overall quality of pharmaceutical services received by participants was positive. Longer waiting times resulted in lower patient satisfaction. High patient load may be the cause of the long waiting time and the inadequate duration of interaction between pharmacist and the patient.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacist and Continuing Education (PACE) Center, Howard University, Coscharis Plaza, Plot 1070 Faskari Street, Area 3, PO Box 10435, Garki Abuja, 900001, FCT, Nigeria, agkenneth@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kenneth Anene
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Agu
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oqua
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agada
authors.forename: Samuel I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Ohiaeri
authors.forename: Afusat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adesina
authors.forename: Mohammed Habeeb
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Abdulkareem
authors.forename: Rosalyn C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Anthony K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wutoh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003219:Confidentiality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054539:Medication Therapy Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010045:Outpatients; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
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