Pharmacy service factors and pharmacy performance: the role of patient satisfaction in community pharmacies

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Barghouth ◽  
Ghaith M. Al-Abdallah ◽  
Ayman Bahjat Abdallah

Purpose This study aims to examine the effects of pharmacy service factors (namely, medication teaching, service promptness, pharmacist attitudes, medication supply and pharmacy location) on patient satisfaction with community pharmacies in Jordan and to explore the effect of patient satisfaction on pharmacy performance. Design/methodology/approach Descriptive analytical methodology, with a quantitative approach using survey strategy was applied. The study population represented the whole population of Jordan (2.033 million households). Data were collected using an online questionnaire. A convenient quota sample of 1,000 respondents was targeted; 502 valid questionnaires were returned, representing an effective response rate of 50.2%. The study hypotheses were tested using path analysis. Findings The results showed that the service factors contributing most significantly to patient satisfaction in Jordan are medication supply, pharmacist attitudes, medication teaching and service promptness, in descending order of influence. Meanwhile, the effect of pharmacy location on patient satisfaction proved to be insignificant. In addition, patient satisfaction proved to have a highly positive impact on pharmacy performance. Originality/value This study addresses a debatable issue in the literature regarding the influence that pharmacy service factors can have on patient satisfaction. In addition, to the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the proposed effects in Jordan. It is also one of the first to investigate the effect of patient satisfaction on community pharmacy performance.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Abu-Rumman ◽  
Ata Al Shraah ◽  
Faisal Al-Madi ◽  
Tasneem Alfalah

Purpose This study aims to explore if the application of the customer results criteria contained within the King Abdullah II Award for Excellence (KAIIAE) is correlated with high levels of patient satisfaction within a large hospital based in Jordan. Design/methodology/approach Using a mixed methodology, supported by a pragmatist theoretical approach, a satisfaction survey was conducted with patients accessing the hospital as an in-patient across a range of specialities gathering feedback about different aspects of their care. The results were compared with a self-assessment completed by different speciality teams about the existence and maturity of customer result arrangements implemented as a result of the (KAIIAE). Findings The findings confirmed that quality awards such as the KAIIAE can effectively be applied in a health-care setting and can help provide a framework for improving patient experience and satisfaction. A correlation was found with those specialties that self-assessed themselves more highly in terms of these arrangements and the overall levels of patient satisfaction with that specialty, suggesting that the products of working towards the KAIIAE such as establishing effective patient experience monitoring arrangements and improved learning from complaints, has a positive impact on patient satisfaction. Originality/value There are limited studies which focus specifically on customer results and on the use of the KAIIAE more generally. This study therefore makes a valuable contribution in adding to the debate about the strategic value of working towards formal quality improvement models and awards in health-care settings.


2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmet Yildiz ◽  
Sidika Kaya

Purpose – This article aims to investigate perceptions of Turkish nurses on the impact of accreditation on quality of care and the effect of accreditation on quality results. Design/methodology/approach – This study was performed as a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey on 258 nurses who started working in the hospital before it was accredited and continued to work during and after accrediation and who therefore knew both the hospital's pre-accrediation and post-accreditation periods. In this study, descriptive statistical analyses (means and standard deviations) were carried out to explore the views of the participants on “quality results,” “benefits of accreditation” and “participation of employees.” “Quality results” was considered to be the dependent variable, while “benefits of accreditation” and “participation of employees” were accepted as the independent variables. The relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variables was tested using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. External patient satisfaction data collected by the quality department of the hospital before and after accreditation were also investigated. Findings – It was found that nurses had generally high scores for the items concerning the benefits of accreditation. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the dependent variable (quality results) and the independent variables (benefits of accreditation and participation of employees). Regression analysis indicated that R2=0.461 and the extent to which the independent variables explained the dependent variable was 46.1 per cent, which is a high rate. Patient satisfaction scores increased after accreditation. Practical implications – Our study suggest that providing support for nurses, especially nurses with administrative responsibilities and incorporating employees into the process are important for exercising quality standards. Originality/value – Hospital accreditation has a positive impact on quality results especially on quality of care provided to patients and patient satisfaction. Study findings could guide policy makers and hospital managers in Turkey and in other countries who are preparing or implementing accreditation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1237-1258
Author(s):  
Caroline Lacroix ◽  
Lova Rajaobelina ◽  
Anik St-Onge

PurposeThis article proposes two studies to demonstrate the impact of three dimensions of perceived experiential advertising – cognitive/affective/sensory advertising, relate advertising and behavioural advertising – on consumer behaviour (brand credibility, affective commitment and emotions) in the banking sector.Design/methodology/approachFor study 1, a total of 506 online panellists of a recognized Canadian research firm were asked to evaluate a local bank advertisement using an online self-reported questionnaire. For study 2, a total of 65 Canadian respondents recruited through Facebook and Google adverts were asked to watch two video advertisements (one more experiential and the other less experiential). After viewing the advertisements on a computer equipped with FaceReader software by Noldus, participants completed a short online questionnaire.FindingsUsing structural equations modelling, the first study shows that brand credibility explains the positive impact of perceived cognitive/affective/sensory advertising (complementary mediation) and perceived behavioural advertising (indirect mediation only) on affective commitment. The second study illustrates that the cognitive/affective/sensory dimension is more important for experiential advertising than experiential advertising. Employing FaceReader facial expression recognition software results indicate that the bank advertisement with a higher score of perceived cognitive/affective/sensory advertising produces a higher level of happiness among respondents.Originality/valueBoth studies provide new insights into perceived experiential advertising and the impact of the latter on consumers. Benefits to scholars and practitioners include an enhanced understanding of advertising effectiveness in the banking sector.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peerayuth Charoensukmongkol

Purpose This paper examines the effect of improvisational behavior of entrepreneurs on firm performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand during the economic crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also explores external factors in terms of competitive intensity and internal factors in terms of financial and human resources possessed by firms that could enhance the impact of improvisational behavior on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach A self-administered online questionnaire survey was used to collect the data from the random sample of 312 SMEs in Thailand. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings The analysis supports the positive relationship between the improvisational behavior of entrepreneurs and firm performance. Moreover, the moderating effect analysis shows that the positive impact of improvisational behavior on firm performance tends to be stronger for firms that encountered a higher level of competitive intensity and for firms that possessed a higher level of financial and human resources. Originality/value This research extends the knowledge from prior research by confirming some moderating factors that could strengthen the benefit of improvisational behavior during the crisis.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Duarte ◽  
Susana Silva ◽  
Wilian Ramalho Feitosa ◽  
Rui Sebastião

Purpose Considering the importance of financial literacy (FL) in people’s lives the goal of this study aims to assess the level of FL of young Portuguese students, addressing the impact of the level of education on the FL of college students. Design/methodology/approach Data from a non-probabilistic sample of 185 students attending higher education bachelor’s and master’s degrees courses in Economics, Management and Marketing was collected between February 25 and March 23, 2019, using an online questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using IBM SPSS 25 to analyze the data. Findings The findings show that the level of the degree (bachelor’s or master’s degree) and the academic background of the individual’s parents have a positive impact on FL. Moreover, among individuals with a high level of FL, gender and professional situation are additional predictors. Furthermore, the authors observed that the level of FL of Portuguese students attending higher education is overall low, especially in terms of their knowledge of the main financial concepts, which may call for public policies to be implemented so that to reduce this vulnerability. Research limitations/implications Among limitations is the limited sample collected, restricted to a particular target, Portuguese students attending business-related courses such as Economics, Management and Marketing, either studying for a master’s or bachelor’s degree. This issue restricts the generalization of the overall findings to other students studying different fields. Future studies can collect a random and representative sample. Practical implications This study test can be replicated to generate a diagnosis in any region or country, identifying how financially literate the region under analysis is. Also, this can be done to verify the evolution of FL after educational interventions. Social implications FL is an important competence. In fact, youngsters in the whole world have been suffering from a lack of financial knowledge (FK), and some characteristics of them can push them into indebtedness, and, even bankruptcy, such as a higher level of status consumption, the tendency to have an attitude of self-appraisal, to be self-centered, to seek instant gratification. This study helps to lead to a better understanding of this phenomenon. Originality/value Addressing college students attending different levels is an add-on to the existing body of literature. This paper contributes to study differences in FL between college and master students, enlightening and evaluating the role of scholarship maturity on financial education. Furthermore, some of the findings challenge the extant knowledge regarding the influence of professional experience, gender and age on the level of FK that students have. Finally, the current approach is innovative as it addresses FK, FL and numeracy in the same study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Maurício Valente ◽  
Paulo Sérgio Amaral Sousa ◽  
Maria Rosário Alves Moreira

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to research the way in which Lean practices are affecting the performance of manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs), analyzing the effects of Lean practices on companies’ operational, financial and market performance. Design/methodology/approach An online questionnaire was distributed among Portuguese organizations that fitted the category of SMEs and belonged to the manufacturing sector. A sample of 329 enterprises was analyzed with partial least squares–structural equation modelling. Four hypotheses on the impact of Lean practices on company performance were tested. Findings The results show that the effects of Lean on performance are positive, which stresses the benefits attainable with the implementation of Lean practices. The aggregated implementation of Lean practices, namely, customer involvement, statistical process, continuous flow and total productive maintenance leads to improvements in company’s global performance measured by market, financial and operational performance measures, and also improves each of these performance measures individually. It was also noticed that financial capability is one of the indispensable factors for the successful implementation of Lean practices. Research limitations/implications The results contribute to the investigation on the topic, broadening the literature on the implementation of Lean practices in companies around the world. Practical implications The research outcomes may be used as a motivation for other SMEs to implement Lean practices by acknowledging the positive impact on their performance. Furthermore, the degree of Lean implementation in the particular industry may constitute a signal for government and/or economic decision makers to define incentives such as fiscal benefits for companies that engage in Lean implementation programmes, partly financing workers cross-training, among other necessary investments. Originality/value This is the first study that examines the impact of the effect of Lean on operational, financial and market performance in a discriminated and simultaneous way.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 317-337
Author(s):  
Mabel K. Majanja

PurposeTo determine the perceived self-efficacy of South African LIS academics in e-teaching as a co-requisite to imparting relevant ICT knowledge and skills to LIS students.Design/methodology/approachThe study was underpinned by the pragmatic world view, which allows a researcher to choose a combination of methods, techniques and procedures that best meets the needs and purposes of the study. Based on the purpose and objectives of the study, and the type of data needed, a quantitative approach, employing the descriptive survey design was used. An online questionnaire with both structured and unstructured questions was distributed to 79 LIS academics in 8 universities and attracted a 68.4% response rate. Structured responses were computed directly as quantitative data, while the unstructured answers were aggregated under themes and analysed quantitatively.FindingsThe findings show that LIS academics in South Africa have not been left behind in the trends regarding e-teaching, and most of them feel quite confident about their self-efficacy in e-teaching. A variety of Learning Management Systems and e-tools are in use and relevant policies and technical support available. Most LIS academics, to re-/up-skill themselves, employ diverse heutagogical strategies. However, the e-teaching support in terms of resources and technical support are inadequate because some universities are deficient in their provision of ICTs and e-learning guidelines.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of the study is that this was a time-bound study that focused merely on the basic level investigation A further in-depth probing of the real (as opposed to self) levels of e-teaching efficacy and how heutagogy can be explored or advocated is necessary.Practical implicationsThe implications of the results are that (1) South African LIS academics are well fairly well prepares to face the impact of COVID-19, which has forced universities to turn to virtual/online education (2) Heutagogical approach should be explored as a method of further improving the capabilities of e-teachers, in order to (3) pass forward a positive impact on LIS graduates by preparing them to be agile for a modern work environment. (4) universities have to provide sufficient resources to support academics in their endeavour to continually improve their teaching.Social implicationsTopical in the face of the novel coronavirus.Originality/valueOptimal


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélia Brandão ◽  
Eva Pinho ◽  
Paula Rodrigues

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyse the antecedent (Consumer Involvement) and the consequences (Brand Connection and Brand Usage Intent [BUI]) of the three dimensions of Consumer Brand Engagement (CBE) (Cognitive Processing, Affection and Activation) in luxury brand engagement on Facebook. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through an online questionnaire completed by fans/followers of luxury brands’ Facebook pages. The empirical study was conducted using structural equation modelling. Findings Consumer Involvement has a positive impact on the three dimensions of CBE (Cognitive Processing, Affection and Activation). This leads to the conclusion that Activation and Affection have an impact both on Self-Brand Connection and on BUI. Moreover, it was found that Cognitive Processing impacts only on BUI. Practical implications The results identified the factors which brand managers should focus on to increase CBE on Facebook. Originality/value This study is a pioneer, as it extends the consumer engagement model to the social media context in a hedonic and conspicuous consumption category which includes luxury brand products.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 113-120
Author(s):  
Áine Byrne ◽  
Jenna Pyne ◽  
Vanessa Sheehan

Purpose Lámh is the Irish approach to key word signing (KWS). It was designed to support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) (including people with autism) and/or communication needs in Ireland. The purpose of this paper is to determine the level of Lámh use in a large organisation for children and adults with IDD and identify factors influencing use. Design/methodology/approach An online questionnaire was distributed to 950 staff members in the aforementioned organisation. Findings The response rate was 23 per cent (n = 217), with the majority of respondents indicating a belief that all staff should know some key signs (96 per cent) and that Lámh has a positive impact on communication (89 per cent). In sum, 18 per cent of staff who supported a Lámh user reported that they rarely or never use signs. There was a significant association between client group (children or adults) and frequency of Lámh use by staff, with greater use reported in children’s services. Research limitations/implications Overall, a positive attitude towards Lámh was identified amongst staff within the organisation. Despite this, there is evidence of inadequate support for Lámh users, particularly in adult services. Identified barriers which impacted the implementation of Lámh included inconsistencies in organisational culture, levels of support and access to training. A consistent Lámh signing environment is crucial to the successful use of Lámh as a communication method. This study suggests that the level of support required to create a consistent signing environment may be underestimated. Originality/value This is the first study to evaluate the reported use of key word sign in an Irish disability setting. The findings will be of benefit to any staff members supporting KWS users and, in particular, those involved in the provision of KWS training.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 562
Author(s):  
Elena Druică ◽  
Rodica Ianole-Călin ◽  
Cristian Băicuș ◽  
Raluca Dinescu

Patient’s satisfaction with community pharmacy services, and patients’ trust in the information received in community pharmacies are important drivers of pharmaceutical care adoption. An online questionnaire assessing patient satisfaction with the services received in pharmacies and trust in the pharmacist’s advice, along with their determinants, was administered to 343 Romanian chronic and non-chronic patients. Using various statistical tests, exploratory factor analysis, and robust regression we explored determinants of satisfaction and trust. We found that satisfaction with services is predicted by pharmacists’ attitude (β = 631, p < 0.001), low waiting time (β = 0.180, p < 0.001), affordable cost of the drugs (β = 0.09, p = 0.009), and drug availability (β = 0.157, p < 0.001). At the same time, trust in the information received is driven by pharmacists’ attention (β = 0.610, p < 0.001), whether the patient received precautionary information (β = 0.425, p < 0.001), low waiting time (β = 0.287, p < 0.001), and whether the respondent is a chronic patient or not (non-chronic patients express more trust, β = 0.328, p = 0.04). Our study expands the existing paradigm that sees trust as a simple predictor of satisfaction by showing that trust and satisfaction are predicted by different variables, and thus they should be addressed using different strategies. In fact, we found that they share only one predictor—waiting time, highly significant in both cases. Our findings show that, without prioritizing trust in the information received in community pharmacies to reduce information asymmetry between patient and pharmacist, the focus only on patient satisfaction may lead to a scenario in which community pharmacies will end up to be better integrated in the business sector and not in the public health system.


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