DRIVE-THRU PHARMACY SERVICE: ASSESSMENT OF PERCEPTION AMONG PATIENTS OR CAREGIVERS IN HOSPITAL RAJA PEREMPUAN ZAINAB II

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of patients or caregivers on drive-thru pharmacy in Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (HRPZ II), Kelantan.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2014 on 387 patients or caregivers recruited from outpatient pharmacy, HRPZ II using a constructed survey form. The questionnaire was validated through a pilot study which yielded a Cronbach's alpha score of 0.897. It comprised common socio-demographic characteristics as well as 3 domains which described subject's experience in outpatient pharmacy, subject's perception of drive-thru pharmacy and subject's willingness to participate in the service.Results: More than half of respondents (n=231, 59.7 %) were aware of the existence of drive-thru pharmacy service. Almost all patients and caregivers (n=349, 90.2 %) perceived the service as useful to the public. Only a handful of them were reluctant to sign up, mainly due to the perception that it would cause lack of interaction between patients and pharmacists (n=16, 4.1%). Nearly three-quarters of participants (n=288; 74.4%) informed that they had never been asked to register as drive-thru pharmacy clients. They claimed that they were willing to use the service should it was offered to them (n=301; 77.8 %).Conclusion: This survey managed to garner positive feedbacks on drive-thru pharmacy. Most of the subjects perceived it as beneficial and were willing to use the service.Â