Health Care Providers’ Attitude and Satisfaction Toward Patient-Oriented Services Provided by Pharmacy Technicians at Three Faith-Based Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians often work together to provide optimal pharmacy services, however, some low-middle-income countries lack strong regulatory mechanisms and have an inadequate number of pharmacists, necessitating some hospitals to rely on pharmacy technicians providing direct patient care services. Objectives: This study sort to investigate health care providers’ attitudes and satisfaction toward patient-oriented pharmacy services offered by pharmacy technicians at 3 faith-based hospitals in Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2021. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 159 health care providers (HCPs) in 3 institutions of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services. The questionnaire was made up of 3 parts evaluating HCPs’ attitudes and satisfaction. Results: A total of 140 questionnaires were completed (88.1%) response rate. The majority of respondents were female (70%) and <35 years (60.7%). Almost all respondents showed a positive attitude toward pharmacy technicians’ role in patient education (90%) and provision of medication information (93.6%). However, only 46% agreed that pharmacy technicians should take medication histories. The majority of respondents were satisfied with overall pharmacy services (80.7%). Only 25% were satisfied with pharmacy technicians’ participation in ward rounds. Gender was associated with attitude of respondents ( P = 0.02). Factors associated with satisfaction of respondents included profession ( P = 0.047) and work experience ( P = 0.008). Conclusions: Our results revealed a positive attitude and overall satisfaction with technician-led patient-oriented pharmacy services. Additional training, clear job descriptions, and direct pharmacist supervision could ensure the quality and safety of these services.