Assessing Community Pharmacy Services: Patient Satisfaction, Service Delivery, and Regulatory Deficiencies

Pharmacy Practice

  • Ibrahim M. Albayati1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al-Esraa University, 10069, Baghdad, Iraq.
  • Meriam Alomari1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al-Esraa University, 10069, Baghdad, Iraq., 2School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang 11500, Malaysia.
  • Mohammed A. Alobaidy1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al-Esraa University, 10069, Baghdad, Iraq.
  • Khulood M. Alsaraf1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al-Esraa University, 10069, Baghdad, Iraq.

Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 1-9

DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2026.3.3549

Abstract

Aim/Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the needs of patients and the current regulations of community pharmacies in Iraq, as there is a lack of evidence on specific fields of improvement in community pharmacy services in the country. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and March 2023 using a pilot-tested questionnaire to collect data from 1,942 patients with a Likert scale and one-way ANOVA analysis. Results: The response rate was 98.37%, with most respondents being young adults and adults (44.2%), female (94.4%), and from Baghdad (71.3%). Approximately 87.5% confirmed the presence of a pharmacist in the pharmacy, while 13% reported the absence of one. Key findings included 43.1% of participants being unsatisfied with the parking facilities, 38.2% reporting satisfaction with the education of pharmacy staff, 46.2% receiving medications exactly as prescribed, and 45.1% expressing dissatisfaction with prices or discounts. Conclusion: The study concluded that there is low patient satisfaction with community pharmacy services in Iraq, attributed to incorrect regulations and poor implementation, requiring improved community pharmacy services, ongoing professional development for pharmacy staff, and increased involvement of authorities to enhance pharmacy care services.

Keywords

  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Community Pharmacy Services
  • Pharmacy Regulations
  • Pharmacy Staff Education
  • Medication Pricing
Pharmacy Practice

Loading…