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Open AccessArticle
Privacy in Community Pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
by
Marwan A. Alrasheed
Marwan A. Alrasheed 1,*,†
,
Basmah H. Alfageh
Basmah H. Alfageh 1,† and
Omar A. Almohammed
Omar A. Almohammed 1,2
1
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
2
Pharmacoeconomics Research Unit, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Healthcare 2024, 12(17), 1740; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12171740 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 6 August 2024
/
Revised: 30 August 2024
/
Accepted: 30 August 2024
/
Published: 31 August 2024
Abstract
Background: Privacy in healthcare is a fundamental right essential to maintain patient confidentiality and trust. Community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia (SA) play a critical role in the healthcare system by providing accessible services and serving as initial points of contact for medical advice. However, the open nature of these settings poses significant challenges in maintaining patient privacy. Methods: This cross-sectional study used electronic surveys distributed across various online platforms. The target sample included Saudi adults, with a sample size of 385 participants to achieve 80% statistical power at a 95% confidence interval. The survey comprised demographic questions and sections evaluating perceptions of privacy, the importance of privacy, and personal experiences regarding privacy in community pharmacies. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used for the analysis. Results: A total of 511 responses were obtained. The mean age was 33.5 years, with an almost equal distribution of males (49.71%) and females (50.29%). Most participants held a bachelor’s degree or higher (78.67%). Privacy perceptions varied, with only 9.0% strongly agreeing that there was a private space for consultations, while 64.0% felt that the design of community pharmacies did not adequately consider patient privacy, and 86.9% reported that conversations could be overheard. Privacy concerns were notable, with almost one-half of the participants (47.6%) having concerns about privacy and 56.6% doubting the confidentiality of their health information. Moreover, 17.6% reported being asked for unnecessary personal information when buying medication, and 56.2% admitted to avoiding discussing a health problem with the pharmacist due to privacy concerns. Experiences of privacy breaches were reported by 15.7% of respondents. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the availability of private space in the pharmacy and patients feeling that the pharmacy respects their privacy were associated with a lower likelihood of avoiding discussions with pharmacists due to privacy concerns (OR = 0.758, CI = 0.599–0.0957 and OR = 0.715, CI = 0.542–0.945 respectively) Conversely, greater privacy concerns and previous privacy breaches significantly increased the likelihood of avoiding discussions with pharmacists in the community pharmacy (OR = 1.657, CI = 1.317–2.102 and OR = 4.127, CI = 1.886–9.821 respectively). Conclusions: This study highlights the significant concerns regarding privacy practices in community pharmacies in SA. Thus, there is a need for standards to improve privacy in community pharmacies, such as mandating the need for private consultation areas and enhanced staff training on handling privacy-related issues. Addressing the issue of privacy is crucial for maintaining patient trust, improving healthcare service quality, and ensuring effective patient–pharmacist interactions.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Alrasheed, M.A.; Alfageh, B.H.; Almohammed, O.A.
Privacy in Community Pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare 2024, 12, 1740.
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12171740
AMA Style
Alrasheed MA, Alfageh BH, Almohammed OA.
Privacy in Community Pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare. 2024; 12(17):1740.
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12171740
Chicago/Turabian Style
Alrasheed, Marwan A., Basmah H. Alfageh, and Omar A. Almohammed.
2024. "Privacy in Community Pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study" Healthcare 12, no. 17: 1740.
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12171740
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