Article Sidebar
Published:
May 9, 2013Keywords:
Article Details
Submission of a manuscript to this journal is a representation that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All authors named in each manuscript would be required to sign a form (to be supplied by the Editor) so that they may retain their copyright in the article but to assign to us (the Publishers) and its licensees in perpetuity, in all forms, formats and media (whether known or created in the future) to (i) publish, reproduce, distribute, display and store the contribution, (ii) translate the contribution into other languages, create adaptations, reprints, include within collections and create summaries, extracts and/or abstracts of the contribution, (iii) create any other derivative works(s) based on the contribution, (iv) to exploit all subsidiary rights in the contribution, (v) the inclusion of electronic links from the contribution to third party material where-ever it may be located, and (vi) license any thrid party to do any or all of the above.
Main Article Content
Effect of Divergence in Patients’ Socioeconomic Background on their Perspective of the Role of the Community Pharmacist in Amman, Jordan
Abstract
Purpose: To examine the effect of divergence in patients’ socioeconomic background on their perspective of the roles of the pharmacist in Amman, Jordan.
Methods: This was a single-phase observational study conducted in two different socioeconomic areas: Western (WA) and Eastern Amman (EA, which is of a lower socioeconomic status than WA) in March to May of both 2009 and 2010. A validated questionnaire was completed by patients walking into community pharmacies. The source of advice (clinical specialist, general practitioner, pharmacist, nurse or herbalist) regarding patient's disease management and medication use, as well as patients’
expectation of the pharmacist were investigated.
Results: 2000 patients (mean age: 35.1 ± 13.7 years, 57.2 % males) visiting community pharmacies in Amman (1000 each from WA and EA) took part in the study. The majority of patients chose the pharmacist as the source of advice on medication use (WA, 50.8 %; EA, 53.6 %), followed by the clinical specialist (WA, 35.7 % vs EA, 26.9 %, p = 0.001). Other aspects of patient perspective and expectation of the pharmacist were also assessed; in several instances, more reliance on the
pharmacist was observed in EA (lower socioeconomic status) than in WA.
Conclusion: The findings of this study is important for future social pharmacy studies in the area, as it shows that socioeconomic status influences patient’s perception of the role of the community pharmacist in Amman, Jordan.
Keywords: Socioeconomic status, Community pharmacist, Jordan, Patient perception, Counseling
