Students’ perceptions of the role of pharmacists in the healthcare system in Lahore, Pakistan

Purpose : To explore the role of pharmacists in the healthcare system of Lahore, Pakistan; and to determine association between students’ socio-demographic indicators and the likelihood of consulting with a pharmacist. Methods : In this exploratory study, data were collected from 589 students at a private sector university in Lahore, Pakistan, using a convenient sampling design. Information was collected using a semistructured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (i.e., mean, standard deviation, percentages) and chi square were employed. Results : Of 621 questionnaires, a total of 589 were returned, giving a response rate of 94.85 %. The results showed that 289 students (49.06 %) have interacted with pharmacists; however, the majority of the students (98.64 %) agreed there is a strong need for pharmacists who can provide guidance on medication safety. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant association between family system (x 2 (1) = 4.046, p = 0.004), age of family head (x 2 (1) = 11.755, p = 0.001), education level of family head (x 2 (1) = 10.473, p = 0.001), and consulting a pharmacist. Conclusion : There are important roles for pharmacists to play in order to improve the healthcare system of Lahore, Pakistan. Some social demographics affect the likelihood that a person will seek professional counseling from a pharmacist. Keywords : Medication safety, Healthcare system, Pharmacist consultation, Students’ perception