title: Patient Awareness and Expectations of Pharmacist Services During Hospital Stay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are insufficient data in the United States regarding patient awareness and expectations of hospital pharmacist availability and services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this research is to assess patient awareness and expectations of hospital pharmacist services and to determine whether a marketing campaign for pharmacist services increases patient awareness and expectations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible inpatients were surveyed before and after implementation of a hospital-wide pharmacist services marketing campaign (12 items; Likert scale of 1 [strongly disagree] to 4 [strongly agree]; maximum total score of 48) regarding awareness of pharmacist services. The primary outcome was the change in median total survey scores from baseline. Other outcomes included the frequency of patient requests for pharmacists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similar numbers of patients completed the survey before and after the campaign (intervention, n = 140, vs control, n = 147). Awareness of pharmacist availability and services was increased (41 [interquartile ranges, IQRs: 36-46] vs 37 [IQR 31-43]; P < .001). Patients were 7 times more likely to request a pharmacist following the marketing campaign implementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness among inpatients of pharmacist services is low. Marketing pharmacist availability and services to patients in the hospital improves awareness and expectations for pharmacist-provided care and increases the frequency of patient-initiated interaction between pharmacists and patients. This could improve patient outcomes as pharmacists become more integrally involved in direct patient care.
authors: 1 College of Pharmacy, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.|2 Cardiovascular and Neurology, SUMMA Health System, Akron City Hospital, Akron, OH, USA.
authors: Philip K
authors: PK
authors: King
authors: 3 Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH, USA.
authors: Steven J
authors: SJ
authors: Martin
authors: 4 College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
authors: Eric M
authors: EM
authors: Betka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D024382:Professional Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: hospital; marketing; patient awareness; patient expectations; pharmacy services