The community pharmacy market comprised of distinct customer segments that varied in the consumer preferences concerning the selection of pharmacy and OTCs, the evaluation of pharmaceutical services and products, and demographic characteristics.

Aim: Patient-oriented pharmaceutical care in pharmacies could improve patient satisfaction and influence patient’s choice of a community pharmacy. The aim of the work was to assess patient satisfaction and attendance in community pharmacies in Slovakia. Methods: A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to patients visiting 33 community pharmacies in a total of 23 Slovak cities during October-December 2013. The questionnaire contained 29 items and three dimensions were supposed (managing therapy, interpersonal relationship, general satisfaction). A 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = very satisfied, 2 = satisfied, 3 = neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 = dissatisfied, 5 = very dissatisfied) was used for assessing patient satisfaction. The results are presented in percentages and by the level of satisfaction within the range: high satisfaction (score 1.00-2.50), moderate satisfaction (score 2.51-3.50) and low satisfaction (score 3.51-5.00). Reasons for attendance in the community pharmacy and factors influencing pharmacy choice were evaluated either. Results: A total 2 844 respondents were included into the survey. Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical care achieved high satisfaction level: interpersonal relationship (1.85 ± 0.598; 86.7% highly satisfied respondents) and general satisfaction (2.02 ± 0.643; 71.3% highly satisfied respondents). Managing therapy scored lower (2.24 ± 0.704; 65.4% highly satisfied respondents). The most frequently reported reasons for attending community pharmacy were to obtain prescription (70.4%) and over-the-counter medications (70.4%). The patient choice of a particular pharmacy was influenced by its location (74.1%). Conclusion: This study presents the first nationwide patientreported outcomes about patient satisfaction and attendance in community pharmacies in Slovakia. Future development and advancement of pharmacy practice leading to higher patient satisfaction requires modification of community pharmacists’ professional behaviour in Slovakia namely in managing therapy of patients.

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate consumer satisfaction with pharmaceutical care provided in community pharmacies at the region level. Expectations and opinions of consumers were also confronted with the assumptions of pharmacists. Up to 82.0% of consumers con rmed their satisfaction with the care given to them by the pharmacist. A key factor of consumer satisfaction has been the professional (78.7%) and human approach (83.5%) of the pharmacist. A total of 73.6% of consumers in the survey accepted the pharmacist as an expert in medicines. The pharmacist´s self-evaluation was more negative. Monitoring and evaluation of consumer satisfactory with pharmaceutical care is not only essential for improvement of the quality of the healthcare system and for the implementation of pharmaceutical care focussed on the patient, but it may in uence the economic and nancial outcomes of entities providing pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies.Cieľom tejto pilotnej štúdie bolo zhodnotiť spokojnosť zákazníkov s lekárenskou starostlivosťou poskytovanou vo verejných lekárňach na lokálnej úrovni. Očakávania a názory zákazníkov boli zároveň porovnané s predpokladmi lekárnikov. Až 82,0% zákazníkov potvrdilo svoju spokojnosť so starostlivosťou, ktorú im poskytuje lekárnik. Ako kľúčový faktor spokojnosti zákazníkov sa ukázal profesionálny (78,7%) a ľudský prístup (83,5%) lekárnika. 73,6% zákazníkov v našom prieskume akceptovalo lekárnika ako odborníka na lieky. Sebahodnotenie lekárnikov bolo negatívnejšie. Monitoring a hodnotenie spokojnosti zákazníkov s lekárenskou starostlivosťou je nevyhnutné nielen pre zlepšenie kvality systému zdravotnej starostlivosti a pre implementáciu lekárenskej starostlivosti orientovanej na pacienta, ale môže ovplyvniť ekonomické a nančné výsledky subjektov poskytujúcich lekárenskú starostlivosť vo verejných lekárňach.

Monitoring, calculation and assessment of healthcare services prosperity in the community pharmacy with the help of financial analysis indicators for the years 2003-2012, using financial statements was conducted, with respect to profitability, debt, liquidity, working capital, and efficiency parameters. These ratios reflect various changes that hold between years 2003 and 2012. Under the time of financial crisis, recession and serious socio-economic changes the profitability parameter Gross Profit ranged from 2003-2011 = 16.12-22.79% (average = 19.20%; mean = 19.78%; σ = 2.41), but in 2012 decreased on 14.35%. Net Profit ranged 2003-2011 = 10.96-18.3% (average = 14.62%; mean = 16.62%; σ = 4.92), while in 2012 reached only 2.29%. Debt ratio ranged from 2003-2012= 2.33-4.81 (average = 3.44; mean = 3.07; σ = 0.82). Liquidity parameters Current Ratio spread between 2003-2012 = 1.13-1.71 (average = 1.43; mean = 1.46; σ = 0.15) and Quick Ratio spread between 2003-2012 = 0.72-1.27 (average = 1.07; mean = 1.09; σ = 0.15). Working Capital Ratio ranged from 2003-2012 = 2.66-12.94 (average = 9.58; mean = 10.06; σ = 3.1) and efficiency ratios were measured either. All changes that have taken place in the society had an impact on community pharmacy finance by worsening its profitability, liquidity, working capital and some of efficiency parameters. Therefore the stability of community pharmacy may be threatened and may affect its future performance.

The aim of this paper was to determine a demographic situation, the legal form of the ownership, the owner share of a pharmacist in the capital and the economic situation in the community pharmacies of Slovakia. The number of community pharmacies constantly increases (1540 pharmacies in 2012). The legal forms of the ownership in community pharmacies were limited companies (73.6%), a sole proprietor-pharmacists (23.9%), and Joint Stock Companies (1.3%); in the community pharmacy branches there were also limited companies (73.4%), a sole proprietor-pharmacists (26%), Joint Stock Companies (1%). The owner share of the pharmacist in the capital of public pharmacies was 50.4%, and in the community pharmacy branches it was 66%.