Opinion of pharmacists towards accessibility of physically disabled people to pharmacy

AIM: This study aims to determine, the accessibility of physically disabled persons to community pharmacy. Other objectives are understanding the sensitivity of pharmacists to disability and pharmacists’ desire to change. METHOD: A web survey is used to collect the data. Survey questions are prepared by the researchers which includes demographic information and 14 open and/or closed ended questions related to pharmacy size, location, suitability of pharmacy placement and pharmacists knowledge on disabled laws and etc. In 2011 a priliminary face to face survey had been performed in Kayisdagi-Atasehir region. Then in 2012 wider spread survey was performed via web, through all pharmacies of Istanbul and the data of web survey was collected in two months at January-March, 2012. RESULTS: The survey applied to community pharmacists; over 50% of the pharmacists have declared that their pharmacies are not suitable for access by disabled people. 91% of pharmacies’ placement area found to be satisfactory as meter square. Pharmacists believe that necessary arrangements are needed and the responsibility belongs to the government agencies. However, only 41% of pharmacists are aware of the legal arrangements for disabled citizens. 27% of community pharmacists stated that, their pharmacies have fully compatible and 54% of them pointed out that their pharmacy have some deficiencies in habitat. CONCLUSION: It has been found that community pharmacies are partly accesible for phsically disabled people. This condition is not only pharmacy related, but also caused by many architectural problems in the neighbourhood of pharmacy. It appears that, presence of legislations could not solve the architectural problems itself. Primarily standard measurements should be implemented by government authorities. However, legislation implementions may not enough for and education is needed to improve the thoughts and behaviours of public and health professionals. KEY WORDS: disability, accessibility to pharmacy, pharmacy, patient satisfaction