“Access to pharmacy services is difficult in China”: a qualitative study from the perspective of transplant recipients to explore their expectations

Abstract

Purpose To gain an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of Chinese organ transplant recipients’ perceptions, expectations, and suggestions of pharmacy services to hospital pharmacists. Methods This qualitative study was conducted in central China, from February to December 2020. Participants were collected with a purposive and snowball sampling method. Focus group discussions were conducted with organ transplant recipients and content analysis was applied to identify themes and subthemes. Results 21 recipients participated in the qualitative study. Four themes and thirteen subthemes were identified: (1) perceptions of clinical pharmacists and pharmacy services; (2) expectations for pharmacy service content; (3) expectations for pharmacy service form; and (4) difficulties as a special group. Conclusion The pharmacy services provided by Chinese healthcare institutions are inadequate to meet the needs of organ transplant recipients. However, the acceptance and expectation of pharmacy services by transplant recipients are high. Therefore, China should learn from the experience of developed countries and focus on the actual needs of patients to establish a better pharmacy service system for organ transplantation.