An Evaluation of Drugstore Dispensing Services as part of a Project to Reduce Overcrowding at Buddhasothorn Hospital of Chachoengsao Province

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the drugstore dispensing services as part of a project to reduce overcrowding at Buddhasothorn Hospital of Chachoengsao province, using CIPP model.  The head of Consumer Protection agency of Chachoengsao Provincial Health Office, and Pharmaceutical Division, including 4 clinical pharmacists of diabetic outpatients, and 120 patients attended Diabetes Clinic of the studied hospital, 5 drugstore’s pharmacists, along with 87 diabetic patients receiving medicines from these drugstores, were included in this study. The data was collected by in-person interview and in-depth interview. Service statistics data of hospital, drugstores, and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) were collected. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were conducted for quantitative and qualitative methods respectively.

The results showed a very small reduction of patients at the Outpatient Department. A score out of 10 on the project’s satisfaction among the hospital pharmacists at the DM Clinic, and pharmacists at the drugstores, were 5-8 and 7-9 respectively. The patients were more satisfied to the service at the drugstores than at the hospital, 75.9 and 32.5 percent, respectively. However, this project did not provide any additional manpower to DM Clinic. Pharmacists in drugstores had a positive attitude towards this project, and their main concerned was supporting the government health sectors on the service for the people and communities. Strengthening collaboration between hospital and drugstores on the role of community pharmacist professionals in the health network, as well as being part of the community health service system in the future.