Purchase of prescription and OTC medicines in Slovakia: factors influencing patients' expectations and satisfaction

Abstract

Slovakia is a country where the purchase of OTC (over the counter) medicines outside the pharmacy is not allowed by the government. This study aimed at evaluating patients' satisfaction and acceptance of community pharmacists. Customer's behaviour and expectations influencing the purchase of prescription and OTC medicines were analyzed. A structured questionnaire having 15 multiple-choice questions was used to analyze the descriptive parameters. Data collection lasted from January to February 2014. The sample size consisted of 357 high-school educated individuals under 40 years of age. The survey showed that the prescription and OTC medicines were bought equally. The participants reported a 96.0%, 96.3% and 90.2% satisfaction rate with willingness and approach of the community pharmacist, pharmacy services and provision of drug information respectively. As for the OTC medicines, 89.5% people considered the pharmacist an expert: 88.2% purchased medicines with pharmacist's recommendation, 97.8% needed a professional counselling and 97.2% required a pharmacist's guidance. As for the prescription drugs, only 72.1% considered the pharmacist an expert: 96.3% suggested that physician's prescription was significant and 88.3% considered pharmacist's guidance in the process of selection of prescription medicines nonessential. A comprehensible and respectable conversation was highly expected in regards to both the OTC and prescription medicines.

Self-Medication in Europe: Economic and Social Impact on Individuals and Society

“…This growth potential is based on a potential expansion of self-medication as an alternative to consulting a GP. The assumptions used for this forecast are quantitatively based on market developments documented after Rx-to-OTC switches and after changes in the incentive situation for consumer decisions to self-medicate (e. g. through legislative measures) in different countries 3 9 10 11 12 19 20 21 35 .…”

“…The current state of research reveals that self-care and self-medication are a widely accepted and practiced form of primary care across Europe 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 . Studies demonstrate that between 51% and 94.9% of Europeans are willing to practice self-care as it allows greater involvement in the treatment process, faster access to treatment options for MAs and avoidance of long waiting times for GP visits 10 16 17 .…”

Effects of Demographic Characteristics and Consumer Behavior in the selection of Retail Pharmacies and Over-the-Counter Medicine

“…In order for self-care and self-medication to be successful, professional guidance and impartial advice are needed (Krishnan & Schaefer, 2000). The purchase of OTC medicines is consistently performed in community pharmacies (Haramiova et al, 2017). Although as an initial step, individuals will take actions based on their own knowledge and beliefs or seek advice and support from their family and friends, pharmacists still have significant opportunities to provide and support a vast array of health-related questions.…”

Factors That Influence Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medicines’ Purchasing Decision

“…For over-the-counter medicines, Pharmacists' recommendation comes in the first rank before the Physicians' recommendation then price, family and friends' recommendation and advertising at the end. (Haramiova, Kobliskova and Soltysova, 2017) In Bangladesh, Babu made an empirical study and surveyed 280 respondents to analyze the factors that contribute to the purchasing decision of over-the-counter medicines in 2007 and it was concluded that the past experience with the medicine itself constitutes the highest impact. Company and brand image that was expressed also as awareness or being aware of the product together with the safety of the medicine were among those factors.…”