Abstract
BACKGROUND: A satisfactory counseling process between the patient and pharmacist is critical for rational use of dispensed drug(s) and is highly influenced by many factors including the experience of pharmacist in dispensing process. To improve patients' knowledge of dispensed drugs, it is necessary to understand the factors that optimize a pharmacist interaction with a patient in each activity of the dispensing process. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the pharmacist and patient factors that influence knowledge of dispensed drugs by ambulatory patients at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 422 respondents. Data were collected by interviews using a structured questionnaire that measures "exit knowledge" of the ambulatory patients for dispensed drugs. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0. Potential covariates were identified using χ(2) test, and logistic regression analyses were undertaken to adjust for the covariates. RESULTS: Our findings showed significant proportions of the patients did not recall the name of their dispensed medication (53.6%), major side effects (66.4%), and what to do in case of missed doses (65.4%). Patients' knowledge of dispensed drugs was significantly associated with their educational level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-3.84 [primary], AOR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.04-4.04 [secondary], and AOR: 2.71; 95% CI: 1.35-5.46 [tertiary]); clear instruction from the pharmacist (AOR: 3.36; 95% CI: 1.16-9.72); and the politeness of the pharmacist (AOR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.04-4.04). CONCLUSION: We found that the majority of patients poorly understood the name of the dispensed medication, side effects, and what to do in case of missed doses. In addition, the formal educational level of the patient, clear instruction from the pharmacist, and the politeness of pharmacist were the factors significantly associated with improved exit knowledge of patients for dispensed drugs. Therefore, increased communication skills training for pharmacists would optimize patient-pharmacist interaction, which in turn would likely improve exit knowledge of ambulatory patients for dispensed drugs.