Development of Primary Care Pharmaceutical Services for Patients with Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases through a Community-Based Approach and Collaboration with a Team of Three Doctors in Maetha District, Lampang Province

Abstract

This research aimed to develop the quality of primary care pharmaceutical services for patients with chronic non-communicable diseases through a community-based approach and collaboration with a team of three doctors (3-Healthcare Team) in Maetha District, Lampang Province and to evaluate the development results. The sample involved 34 healthcare workers from 14 primary care units and 300 patients with chronic non-communicable diseases, selected by multi-stage sampling. The instruments used were a patient data record form and chronic disease patient ID book, a drug problem solving data collection form, a primary care unit drug inventory value collection form, and a questionnaire to measure expectations and perceptions of service quality. The results of the study found that the development of the service model from individual service in the service unit to individual drug preparation from the hospital and pharmacists to proactively work in the village community collaborated with a team of three doctors resulted in increased patient access to services, drug problem resolution and prevention, and significantly reduced severity of disease according to the 7-color ping-pong system (p=0.013) with no difference in the number of drugs used to treat the disease (p=0.866), resulting in a decrease in the drug inventory value. Comparing the mean level of expectation and perception of service providers and service recipients towards the quality of primary pharmacy services, it was found that the level of perception and expectation was significantly different. The level of perception was higher than the expectation in all aspects of the service (4.63±0.52 vs 4.50±0.63, p<0.001). The service quality that was slightly higher than the expectation should be revised and improved, namely, building confidence that the medicine received was up to standard and safe, creating the attitude of pharmacists to show empathy and understanding to patients, and trying to get to know patients. In conclusion, the development of the quality of primary pharmacy services for patients with chronic non-communicable diseases through a community-based approach and collaboration with a team of three doctors is a model that increases access to services, provides good treatment results, reduces the value of drug inventory, and is a quality service model from the perspective of both service recipients and service providers.