Community Pharmacy Users’ Characteristics, Reasons for Visit to the Pharmacy and Perceptions of the Role of Community Pharmacists in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Community pharmacists need information about their customers’ needs,
opinions and perceptions of themselves and their services, in order to serve
them better. This study investigated the customers’ perceptions of
community pharmacies and pharmacists in Harare, Zimbabwe. Forty three
percent of the customers visited the pharmacy less than once a month. The
majority of respondents (91 %) visited the pharmacy to purchase medicines
recommended by their doctor. Most of the respondents (61.2 %) were not
loyal to any particular pharmacy. The choice of a particular pharmacy by
the respondents was mainly influenced by convenience (62.9 %). Many
respondents did not have adequate knowledge of all the major roles of the
pharmacist. Respondents generally held positive views and opinions of
community pharmacies and community pharmacists.