A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Workflow and Cost Factors of Dispensing Services in Community Pharmacies in Taiwan
Yen-Ming Huang,1– 3 Yao-Hsing Wang,1,4 Hsun-Yu Chan,5 Yunn-Fang Ho1,2 1Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100025, Taiwan; 2School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100025, Taiwan; 3Department of Pharma...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/a-qualitative-approach-to-exploring-workflow-and-cost-factors-of-dispe-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JMDH |
| _version_ | 1797646954347364352 |
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| author | Huang YM Wang YH Chan HY Ho YF |
| author_facet | Huang YM Wang YH Chan HY Ho YF |
| author_sort | Huang YM |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Yen-Ming Huang,1– 3 Yao-Hsing Wang,1,4 Hsun-Yu Chan,5 Yunn-Fang Ho1,2 1Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100025, Taiwan; 2School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100025, Taiwan; 3Department of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, 100229, Taiwan; 4Honest Pharmacy, Taichung, 408483, Taiwan; 5Department of Industrial Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, 106308, TaiwanCorrespondence: Hsun-Yu Chan, Department of Industrial Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, 106308, Taiwan, Tel +886 2 77493550, Email hsunyuchan@ntnu.edu.tw Yunn-Fang Ho, Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100025, Taiwan, Tel +886 2 33668794, Fax +886 2 33668780, Email yfho@ntu.edu.twPurpose: This study aimed to thoroughly document the process and cost factors involved in dispensing services within a community pharmacy.Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study incorporated a pragmatic and descriptive qualitative approach to outline pharmacists’ viewpoints on providing dispensing services in community settings. A purposive sampling was employed to recruit pharmacists from geographically different community pharmacies, spanning from March to July 2022. Semi-structured interviews with direct content analysis were conducted through face-to-face interactions to gather firsthand insights into pharmacists’ professional dispensing services. The data underwent analysis through descriptive and in vivo coding techniques to categorize, define, and label themes, thereby identifying key steps and cost components in the prescription dispensing process. The qualitative data management software, MAXQDA 2020, was utilized for data management and maintenance.Results: Ten community pharmacists participated in the study, cooperatively completing the interview process. Of these, 7 were male and 3 were female, with age ranging from 29 to 62 years. The average length of pharmacy practice experience was 11.4 years. The study revealed six integral steps in the dispensing process: (1) receiving and clarifying legality and completeness of prescriptions, (2) profiling and verifying patient prescriptions, (3) preparing prescription labels and containers, (4) dispensing right medications with right quantity, (5) inspecting dispensing accuracy, (6) handing over medications and providing counseling. Along with these processes, pharmacists emphasized that pharmacy manpower, representing a substantial portion of the associated costs, determines the success and quality of the dispensing service. Additionally, rental, utilities, consumables, and physical equipment were identified as other important cost factors associated with carrying out pharmacy dispensing services.Conclusion: The study offers a comprehensive understanding of the dispensing service workflow within community pharmacies. The findings may inform key stakeholders and policymakers about required resources for enhancing and sustaining quality dispensing services for the public in Taiwan.Keywords: community pharmacy, dispensing service, pharmacist, prescription, refill |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:09:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eec354a2159e44508d784a017a6a7569 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-2390 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:09:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-eec354a2159e44508d784a017a6a75692023-10-29T18:02:23ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare1178-23902023-10-01Volume 163179318887677A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Workflow and Cost Factors of Dispensing Services in Community Pharmacies in TaiwanHuang YMWang YHChan HYHo YFYen-Ming Huang,1– 3 Yao-Hsing Wang,1,4 Hsun-Yu Chan,5 Yunn-Fang Ho1,2 1Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100025, Taiwan; 2School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100025, Taiwan; 3Department of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, 100229, Taiwan; 4Honest Pharmacy, Taichung, 408483, Taiwan; 5Department of Industrial Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, 106308, TaiwanCorrespondence: Hsun-Yu Chan, Department of Industrial Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, 106308, Taiwan, Tel +886 2 77493550, Email hsunyuchan@ntnu.edu.tw Yunn-Fang Ho, Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100025, Taiwan, Tel +886 2 33668794, Fax +886 2 33668780, Email yfho@ntu.edu.twPurpose: This study aimed to thoroughly document the process and cost factors involved in dispensing services within a community pharmacy.Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study incorporated a pragmatic and descriptive qualitative approach to outline pharmacists’ viewpoints on providing dispensing services in community settings. A purposive sampling was employed to recruit pharmacists from geographically different community pharmacies, spanning from March to July 2022. Semi-structured interviews with direct content analysis were conducted through face-to-face interactions to gather firsthand insights into pharmacists’ professional dispensing services. The data underwent analysis through descriptive and in vivo coding techniques to categorize, define, and label themes, thereby identifying key steps and cost components in the prescription dispensing process. The qualitative data management software, MAXQDA 2020, was utilized for data management and maintenance.Results: Ten community pharmacists participated in the study, cooperatively completing the interview process. Of these, 7 were male and 3 were female, with age ranging from 29 to 62 years. The average length of pharmacy practice experience was 11.4 years. The study revealed six integral steps in the dispensing process: (1) receiving and clarifying legality and completeness of prescriptions, (2) profiling and verifying patient prescriptions, (3) preparing prescription labels and containers, (4) dispensing right medications with right quantity, (5) inspecting dispensing accuracy, (6) handing over medications and providing counseling. Along with these processes, pharmacists emphasized that pharmacy manpower, representing a substantial portion of the associated costs, determines the success and quality of the dispensing service. Additionally, rental, utilities, consumables, and physical equipment were identified as other important cost factors associated with carrying out pharmacy dispensing services.Conclusion: The study offers a comprehensive understanding of the dispensing service workflow within community pharmacies. The findings may inform key stakeholders and policymakers about required resources for enhancing and sustaining quality dispensing services for the public in Taiwan.Keywords: community pharmacy, dispensing service, pharmacist, prescription, refillhttps://www.dovepress.com/a-qualitative-approach-to-exploring-workflow-and-cost-factors-of-dispe-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JMDHcommunity pharmacydispensing servicepharmacistprescriptionrefill |
| spellingShingle | Huang YM Wang YH Chan HY Ho YF A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Workflow and Cost Factors of Dispensing Services in Community Pharmacies in Taiwan Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare community pharmacy dispensing service pharmacist prescription refill |
| title | A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Workflow and Cost Factors of Dispensing Services in Community Pharmacies in Taiwan |
| title_full | A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Workflow and Cost Factors of Dispensing Services in Community Pharmacies in Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Workflow and Cost Factors of Dispensing Services in Community Pharmacies in Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Workflow and Cost Factors of Dispensing Services in Community Pharmacies in Taiwan |
| title_short | A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Workflow and Cost Factors of Dispensing Services in Community Pharmacies in Taiwan |
| title_sort | qualitative approach to exploring workflow and cost factors of dispensing services in community pharmacies in taiwan |
| topic | community pharmacy dispensing service pharmacist prescription refill |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/a-qualitative-approach-to-exploring-workflow-and-cost-factors-of-dispe-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JMDH |
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