Application of Scoring and Decision Models to Evaluate Procurement Determinants in Community Pharmacy Practice in Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: There is a need to evaluate the key factors influencing the choice of supply channels used by community pharmacists (CPs). The objectives of the study were to evaluate and score the determinant factors influencing CPs’ procurement decisions from supply channels (pharmaceutical companies-PC, Wholesaler-LW, and Open-Market-OM). Secondly, to evaluate preference decisions based on relative odds ratios using regression models.
 Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study that used structured questionnaires based on World Health Organization’s recommendations for effective procurement decisions. A mixed-sampling method was used to administer the questionnaire to 393 community pharmacists in Southwest, Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Friedman’s test, chi-square, Henry Garrett’s scoring and, multinomial regression (MNL) models were used for data analysis, using SPSS-25. The significance level was set at p<0.05.
 Results: Results showed that 59.8% (235) of respondents operated as retail practice, 14.8% (62) Wholesale, and 24.4% (96) combined practice. Mean Garrett’s score was highest with ‘quality-assurance (63.36), while ‘Value-added service’ had the least score (38.88) among 10 decision-factors. The median score was 52.82. Individual effects of ‘quality-assurance, competitive-pricing, access-to-credit facilities, flexible payment schedule, range of products, the potential-for-profit, trade-discounts, and value-added service’ were significant determinants of preference decisions (p<0.01; 95% CI) in the MNL model. Interaction effects of competitive pricing and access-to-credit facilities from suppliers had a significant effect on the MNL model (chi-square=493.411; p<0.01; 95% CI).
 Conclusion: The model predicted preference for supply channels (PC, LW, and OM) at various significance levels of the predictors. The study provided a scoring template for evaluating buying decision parameters. The study provided information that is useful to improve our understanding of buying behavior among CPs in pharmacy practice research
 
 Peer Review History: 
 Received: 15 July 2021; Revised: 14 August; Accepted: 7 September, Available online: 15 September 2021
 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Al-Razi university, Department of Pharmacy, Yemen, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com
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 Received file: Reviewer's Comments:
 Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.0/10
 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10
 Reviewers:
 Dr. Vanina Doris Edo’o, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroun, vanina_edoo@yahoo.com
 Dr. Muhammad Zahid Iqbal, AIMST University, Malaysia, drmmziqbal@gmail.com
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