A study of factors influencing the utilization of nondispensing professional pharmaceutical services by consumers
Abstract
This study attempted to identify and develop an understanding of factors that influence consumers in their decision to use non-dispensing professional pharmacy services provided by pharmacists in the community practice setting. A self-administered, postage pre-paid questionnaire was sent to 1,000 Indiana consumers randomly selected from telephone directories. A 45.5 percent response rate was achieved after one original mailing and two followups. The results show that most consumers appear to be unaware of the non-dispensing services pharmacists are able to provide, except for advice on minor health problems and advice on non-prescription drugs. Nevertheless, a substantial number of consumers expressed interest in many of the non-dispensing services. Consumers' perceptions of pharmacists and the services they provide appear to be important factors influencing consumers' decision to use non-dispensing services. Using a stepwise discriminant analysis procedure, twelve variables were found to best discriminate between intenders to use the services and non-intenders. These variables were: past use of services, general attitudes toward services, education, summative subjective norm, knowledge about health, type of pharmacy patronized, monthly OTC expenditures, anxiety about health, summative attitudes toward services, availability of pharmacists for consultation, health status, and professional disposition of pharmacists. A theoretical framework based on Fishbein's Behavioral Intention Model was tested for fit with the data. Although the model components had significant multiple correlation coefficients with intention to use non-dispensing services, it was only able to explain five percent of the variance on the intention measure. It is recommended that further studies be conducted that could help in the understanding of consumer decision making with regards to the use of pharmacy services.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Mason, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Pharmaceuticals
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