Patient and health care provider perspectives on pharmaceutical care delivery by clinical pharmacist in Oman hospitals

Oman's healthcare system has evolved progressively, with the Ministry of Health prioritizing services and extending its health vision to 2050. Significant investments have been made to establish health centers and specialty hospitals, which are managed by regional directorates overseeing both public and private facilities. Despite allocating less than 6.1% of GDP (approximately 1816.88 million USD) to healthcare, Oman's system is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the best globally. The Ministry of Health places a strong emphasis on continuous evaluation and improvement, utilizing feedback mechanisms and a patient satisfaction hotline to ensure high-quality services for the public. Given the importance of clinical pharmacists within this context, it is essential to assess their services and interactions with the broader medical team. Such an assessment can provide unique insights into the effectiveness of clinical pharmacists in Oman's healthcare system and enhance our understanding of their critical role in improving healthcare delivery. This study aims to evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacists' services in Oman on patient outcomes, focusing on how their expertise contributes to better health results and increased patient satisfaction. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design, utilizing two questionnaires. The first questionnaire gathered data on provider characteristics and their utilization of integrated clinical pharmacist services. The second questionnaire assessed patient perceptions within a clinical pharmacist-managed primary care setting, with a focus on education and satisfaction. Both questionnaires were meticulously translated and validated using a forward-backward translation method and reviewed by an expert panel. The study included responses from 360 patients and 145 physicians. Of the physicians who responded, approximately 54% were female, with the majority aged between 35 and 44 years. Among the patient respondents, 52% were male, with 23% being university graduates and over 25 years of age. The findings reveal that more than half of the physicians reported that clinical pharmacists significantly reduce their workload and the time required for patient education. Additionally, the majority of physicians agreed that clinical pharmacy services have enhanced overall medication use within their practice. On the patient side, around 70% rated their clinical pharmacy services and visits positively. These results suggest that clinical pharmacy services in Oman are associated with positive experiences for both physicians and patients, contributing to improved patient care in tertiary hospitals.