Development of Quality Indicators for Pharmaceutical Care Performance Assessment in Nigerian Community Pharmacies: A Delphi Panel

Objective: This study aimed to develop quality indicators for assessing pharmaceutical care performance in the Nigerian community pharmacies. Methods: We searched for existing quality indicators through an extensive literature review. The identified quality indicators consisted of thirty-four items in 10 core components. The Delphi method was used to arrive at a consensus on quality indicators for assessing pharmaceutical care performance in the Nigerian community pharmacies by surveying a panel of experts. There were 3 rounds of the Delphi panel conducted by consulting a panel of 10 experts in pharmaceutical care practice. A mean score>3.5, median>3.5, an absolute value between the median and mode<1.00 was used to establish consensus on the quality indicators for assessing pharmaceutical care performance in the Nigerian community pharmacies. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. A list of 33 quality indicators comprising of 10 core components emerged from the extensive literature review. They included quality management, documentation of care, communication with the patient, management of clinical risk in pharmacy, compounding, dispensing and patient care, follow-up of pharmacotherapy counselling, drug inventory and stocking, training of pharmaceutical staff. At the end of the round three votings, 24 statements of the quality indicator reached consensus in nine core components: quality management (5), continuity of care (1), communication with patients (3), clinical risk management (5), dispensing (1), follow-up of pharmacotherapy (3), counselling (1), logistics (3), training of pharmacy staff (2). Conclusion: This study developed a set of 24 quality indicators for assessing pharmaceutical care performance in community pharmacies in Nigeria.