Cost analysis of a medication dispensing service in community pharmacy in Brazil

Cardoso, Thaissa Costa; Simoens, Steven; Itria, Alexander; Dewulf, Nathalie de Lourdes Souza

doi:10.1590/s2175-97902019000418715

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 25 publications

(31 reference statements)

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“…Detailed insights into various cost items involved in the dispensing process within community settings were revealed from the qualitative research. Analogous to the cost analysis conducted by Cardoso et al on dispensing services in community pharmacies, 37 this study highlighted manpower-related expenses (eg, pharmacist salaries and professional training) would be the primary contributor to the cost components of providing dispensing services. Furthermore, factors such as infrastructure costs (eg, rental and utilities), expenses related to equipment and supplies, patient handouts, and computer systems all contribute to dispensing service costs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Workflow and Cost Factors of Dispensing Services in Community Pharmacies in Taiwan

Huang,

Wang,

Chan

et al. 2023

JMDH

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Purpose 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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%