Abstract

Facing changes in the medical environment, community pharmacies are seeking new strategies and developing new services in order to survive. In this two-phase study, we explored certain aspects of service development in community pharmacies. The first phase involved collection of qualitative data through interviews. In the second phase, a quantitative study was designed on the basis of the results of interviews conducted in the first phase, and sampling was conducted using a questionnaire. The results of the qualitative study showed that development of community pharmacies could enhance public health services and the pharmacy profession and facilitate a redesign of the service environment. In the quantitative study, over 64% of the respondents agreed that development of community pharmacies would enhance the pharmacy professional environment and provide flexible and diversified services. Another 95% of the respondents were able to accept the concept of self-care management systems that are based on public health services provided by community pharmacies. Regarding the redesign of the service environment of community pharmacies, 42% of the respondents reported that this is ‘important’, and 53% indicated that this is ‘very important’.

Key words: Community pharmacy, pharmacy, healthcare policy, healthcare service, service science.