Epilepsy patients’ satisfaction with pharmacist interventions: The impact of specialized pharmaceutical care services

Abstract

Objectives: Patient satisfaction evaluations are necessary to understand patient needs and their impression of the services received. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of specialized pharmaceutical care (PC) services on epilepsy patients’ satisfaction with pharmacist interventions. Materials and Methods: An open, prospective, and longitudinal randomized controlled study was conducted among epilepsy patients recruited from two epilepsy referral centers in Nigeria. The patients were randomized into one of two study groups: Intervention group (IG) or control group (CG). Patients in the IG received specialized PC services in addition to the usual care offered at the hospitals. The effect of PC on patients’ satisfaction with pharmacists’ interventions was evaluated using a validated instrument. Data was analyzed using the IBM Statistical Products and Services Solutions version 25.0 with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Results: Patients in the CG had a significantly lower PC satisfaction score than those in the IG at three months and six months − pre-intervention: 2.505 vs. 2.559; t = −0.803; P = 0.423, three months: 2.483 vs. 3.811; t = −19.618; P = 0.0001, six months: 2.506 vs. 3.969; t = −24.393; P = 0.0001, indicating a significant improvement in patient satisfaction with PC services among those in the IG over time. Conclusion: Specialized PC services improve patients’ satisfaction with pharmacists’ interventions.