Community Pharmacy Users’ Characteristics, Reasons for Visit to the Pharmacy and Perceptions of the Role of Community Pharmacists in Harare, Zimbabwe

Community pharmacists need information about their customers’ needs,opinions and perceptions of themselves and their services, in order to servethem better. This study investigated the customers’ perceptions ofcommunity pharmacies and pharmacists in Harare, Zimbabwe. Forty threepercent of the customers visited the pharmacy less than once a month. Themajority of respondents (91 %) visited the pharmacy to purchase medicinesrecommended by their doctor. Most of the respondents (61.2 %) were notloyal to any particular pharmacy. The choice of a particular pharmacy bythe respondents was mainly influenced by convenience (62.9 %). Manyrespondents did not have adequate knowledge of all the major roles of thepharmacist. Respondents generally held positive views and opinions ofcommunity pharmacies and community pharmacists

Information Technology Use in Community Pharmacies in Harare, Zimbabwe

Information technology (IT) has transformed the practice of pharmacy worldwide. This study was undertaken to determine the pharmacists\' IT use, utilization patterns and their opinions regarding IT use. The majority of pharmacies had networked computers (71.7%) and internet connections (60.9%). Pharmacists had poor knowledge of IT (mean rating score = 2.28 ± 0.83) and limited knowledge of the available online resources. The majority of pharmacists used Google for internet literature searches. About 78.1% of pharmacists agreed/strongly agreed that IT had a role to play in pharmacy practice. Internet surfing (89.1%), web browser navigation (67.4%) and advanced e-mail management skills (58.7%) were the most cited pharmacists\' future needs. Harare community pharmacists were found to have poor IT knowledge and generally under utilize IT. More structured informatics training should be given to pharmacists and pharmacy students to better their knowledge and utilization of IT. Keywords: Information technology, pharmacy, Harare, Zimbabwe East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 10 (2) 2007: pp. 45-4