Abstract
BackgroundEvidence exists of pharmacists providing free or partially subsidised clinical services in order to meet patient healthcare needs. Little is known about how patients perceive the quality and importance of such unfunded services to their healthcare. ObjectivesTo explore pharmacy user perspectives about unfunded services such as their valuation, why they chose to access these services from the pharmacy as well as their willingness to pay should pharmacies need to start charging for the provision of such services owing to budgetary constraints. MethodsThis study was nested in a larger nationwide study where 51 pharmacies were recruited across fourteen locations across New Zealand . Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients who had accessed unfunded services in community pharmacies. Patients were followed up to identify their percieved health outcomes resulting from accessing the unfunded service. ResultsA total of 253 patient interviews were conducted on-site across 51 pharmacies in New Zealand. Two main themes were identified pertaining to (1) patient-provider relationship and (2) Willingness to pay. A total of fifteen different considerations were found to influence pharmacy users' decisions to access health services from the pharmacy. It was found that 62.8% of patients were willing to pay for unfunded services and the majority paying NZD$10. ConclusionPatients positively rate these services and largely deem them important for their healthcare. Willingness to pay for services were also variable between patients and were dependant on the type of service accessed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
