Consumers' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Medicine Price Transparency at Private Healthcare Setting in Malaysia

Ahmad, Nur Sufiza; Hatah, Ernieda; Jalil, Mohamad Ridha; Makmor-Bakry, Mohd

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.589734

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…This is particularly relevant for an on-site visit, especially since price transparency in German CPs is low due to the lack of mandatory price labeling [ 103 ] and due to price communication that usually takes place only shortly before drug dispensing [ 70 ]. Affected individuals should therefore be encouraged by public campaigns to actively inquire about and compare prices—as simulated in this MC study—and then subsequently make appropriate cost–benefit trade-offs [ 104 ]. However, this MC study showed that some CPs—despite being asked—did not provide prices (e.g., due to an exit).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oral emergency contraception practices of community pharmacies: a mystery caller study in the capital of Germany, Berlin

Lungfiel

Mandlmeier

Kunow

et al. 2023

J of Pharm Policy and Pract

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Background In Germany, oral emergency contraception (EC) with the active ingredients levonorgestrel (LNG) and ulipristal acetate (UPA) is available as over-the-counter (OTC) medicine only from community pharmacies (CPs). Because of the window of effect, which is limited to only a few days, CPs have a great responsibility to provide rapid and unimpeded access, while also ensuring “adequate” counseling. The aim was—for the first time in Europe and thus also in Germany for the methodology used in this study—to investigate immediate availability, pricing, and aspects of counseling. Methods Covert mystery calls were conducted in a random sample of CPs stratified by districts in the German capital Berlin. Each of the 263 CPs included was called once at random by one of two trained female student mystery callers. They simulated a product-based scenario for the UPA original ellaOne®, citing a contraceptive failure one day ago as the reason. Results Of 257 successfully called CPs, UPA preparations were immediately available in 98.4% (253/257) and LNG preparations in 86.8% (184/212) of CPs. Prices for UPA preparations varied from €15.95 to €42.95 (∆ 169%; median €35.00 [interquartile range (IQR) €5.91]) and for LNG preparations from €10.60 to €32.49 (Δ 207%; median €22.00 [IQR €5.76]). Information about the correct different window of effect of UPA and LNG preparations was provided in 69.8% (127/182) of CPs. UPA preparations were recommended in 63.1% (111/176) and LNG preparations in 17.2% (30/174) of CPs. Information was provided on how to take them as soon as possible in 30.8% (44/143) of CPs and on how to use them after vomiting in 46.0% (64/139). Conclusions Berlin CPs support access through high immediate availability, especially to UPA preparations. However, access is hampered by high absolute price ranges of both UPA and LNG preparations, which could ideally be minimized by a comparison app. It is positive that CPs promote the benefits of UPA preparations by recommending them noticeably more often than LNG preparations. However, there are deficiencies in giving advice, so there is a need to raise awareness among pharmacy staff to ensure “adequate” counseling in advance over the phone.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oral emergency contraception practices of community pharmacies: a mystery caller study in the capital of Germany, Berlin

Lungfiel

Mandlmeier

Kunow

et al. 2023

J of Pharm Policy and Pract

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“…For variables measured by multiple items, a composite index was obtained from the mean to indicate the score of each variable. Using Bloom’s cutoff, respondents were categorized as good practices when their adherence practices score exceeded 3 (more than 60% on a 5-point Likert scale) and poor practices otherwise ( 31 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What motivates food workers to adhere with WHO guidelines to combat the COVID-19? A social cognitive theory perspective

Wang,

Gong,

Tang

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundCOVID-19 has become a public health emergency and pandemic of global concern, and the hundreds of millions of foodborne illnesses that occur each year also wreak havoc on human lives, society and the economy. Promoting workers in food service establishments to adhere to the hygiene practices in the WHO guidelines is a two-birds-one-stone strategy in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and limiting the occurrence of foodborne illness. The aim of this study was to determine the drivers that motivate workers to adhere to hygiene practices based on social cognitive theory.MethodsThe cross-sectional survey targeting food workers using face-to-face interviews was conducted from July to September 2022. Stratified random sampling and convenience sampling were employed to locate survey sites and respondents, respectively. The survey uses a credible questionnaire evaluated by multiple reliability and validity measures. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify significant determinants of adherence to WHO-initiated hygiene practices.ResultsA total of 900 workers were interviewed and 609 valid questionnaires were received. The study showed that the average correct rate of knowledge about hygiene practices was only 51.09%, that perceived non-adherence to hygiene practices was most likely to result in lower customer satisfaction and the spread of COVID-19, and that only about 11.7% of the workers always adhered to hygiene practices. Three of the cognitive dimensions in the personal factors, self-efficacy, risk perception, and knowledge, had significant positive effects on adherence practices. Among the demographic variables, there were significant differences in adherence practices differing by income level and place of residence.ConclusionIt was found that workers’ knowledge of the WHO-initiated hygiene practices is insufficient and that the frequency of adherence to hygiene practices is poor and require improvement. The significant drivers and effects of demographic variables provide evidence-based guidance to identify priority intervention information and populations to improve worker hygiene practices.

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Counselling with a focus on product and price transparency for over‐the‐counter headache medicines: A simulated patient study in community pharmacies in Munich, Germany

Langer,

Kunow,

Bolduan

et al. 2024

Health Planning & Management

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BackgroundIn Germany, over‐the‐counter (OTC) medicines may only be dispensed by community pharmacies (CPs). German CPs must ensure ‘adequate’ counselling, including the cost of medicines. Along with information gathering and advice giving as classic aspects of counselling, the aim was also to investigate counselling indicators of product and price transparency.MethodsThe cross‐sectional study was based on the covert simulated patient (SP) methodology and was conducted in a random sample of CPs stratified by districts in the major German city of Munich. Each of the 178 selected CPs was visited once by one of five trained female students. They simulated a symptom‐based sub‐scenario 1 with a request for an OTC medicine for a headache and a sub‐scenario 2 with standardised information regarding product and price transparency. The assessment, completed immediately postvisit by the SPs, included a total of 23 items.ResultsAll 178 scheduled visits were completed successfully. The median counselling score with the classic items was 3.0 out of 12 points (interquartile range [IQR] 4.25) and when expanded by items for product and price transparency the score was 4.0 out of 14 points (IQR 4.00). A selection of medicines was offered unsolicited in 38.2% of the visits and in 5.6% of the visits voluntary price information was provided before the transaction. A request for a cheaper medicine led to a significant price reduction (Wilcoxon signed‐rank test; p < 0.001, r = 0.869).ConclusionDue to the below‐average level of counselling, the regional chambers of pharmacists are recommended to initiate measures for improvement. There is also potential for optimisation with regard to product and price transparency as an important extension of the classic counselling aspects. It is therefore recommended that the government raise customers' awareness of the cost of medicines.

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Consumers' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Medicine Price Transparency at Private Healthcare Setting in Malaysia

Cited by 5 publications

References 19 publications

Oral emergency contraception practices of community pharmacies: a mystery caller study in the capital of Germany, Berlin

Oral emergency contraception practices of community pharmacies: a mystery caller study in the capital of Germany, Berlin

What motivates food workers to adhere with WHO guidelines to combat the COVID-19? A social cognitive theory perspective

Counselling with a focus on product and price transparency for over‐the‐counter headache medicines: A simulated patient study in community pharmacies in Munich, Germany

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