HIV/AIDS patient’s satisfactory and their expectations with pharmacy service at specialist antiretroviral therapy (ART) units

K. Karunamoorthi 2,3, M. Rajalakshmi 1, S. Makesh Babu 2, A. Yohannes 1

Centralized School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia) 2Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma University, P.O. Box No. 378, Jimma (Ethiopia) 3Research Scholar, Research and Development Centre, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (India)

---

• Infectious Diseases

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to determine HIV/AIDS patient’s level of satisfaction and their expectations with pharmacy service at specialist antiretroviral therapy (ART) unit’s in the government hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The present investigation clearly revealed that 82.5% of HIV/AIDS patients indicated long waiting time was a major reason for their dissatisfaction with pharmacy service. Majority of patients indicated few more other issues are also responsible for their dissatisfaction with pharmacy service such as lack of description about antiretroviral therapy drugs (45.20%), staffs impoliteness (22.40%), and shortage of drugs (4.20%). 93.33% of the respondents prefer to get their pharmacy service within a shorter span, 18.02% wanted comfort waiting hall, 14.32% expecting staffs politeness, 5.18% insisted sufficient number of ART units, 8.88% adequate supply of ART drugs and 21.48% cleanliness. In addition, 20.98% of the patients call for personal interaction with their pharmacist and 4.44% ask for information on ARTs side effects. Chi-square test results showed that patient’s level of satisfaction and length of waiting time to get pharmacy service was inter related and statistically significant (p < 0.002). Therefore, the concern ART units must provide better pharmacy service within shorter span to enhance the patient’s satisfaction. At the end of the day, improving health care services to persons living with HIV/AIDS in our community is all of our duty and responsibility too. Ultimately, increasing HIV/AIDS patient’s level of satisfaction and fulfilling their expectations is extremely essential and inevitable to diminish the unbearable burden of HIV/AIDS pandemic in the near future.

Corresponding Author: Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D.; e-mail: k_karunamoorthi@yahoo.com

Free PDF Download