Perceptions of pharmacists’ roles and satisfaction with pharmaceutical services among selected university communities in Nigeria

Background Pharmacists’ roles in Nigeria are frequently evaluated, but rarely alongside with public satisfaction. Aim To assess public perception of pharmacists’ roles and satisfaction with pharmaceutical services. Method A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted across four university communities in four Nigerian geopolitical zones using a validated questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.27 ( p < 0.05). Results The sample (N=1,535) was predominantly youthful (56% aged 16–30), highly educated (79.8%), and composed of students (48.7%). While 46.8% of respondents demonstrated a positive perception of pharmacists' roles (Mdn=47.0, IQR=8), only 49.8% expressed high satisfaction (Mdn=29.0), showing significant individual variability (IQR=15). Respondents prioritized receiving medication information (60.4% strongly agree) but were least satisfied with the time spent with the pharmacist (13.0% very satisfied). Location, visit frequency, employment, and age significantly influenced both variables (p<.001), while gender was non-significant (p>.05). Spearman’s correlation revealed a negligible and non-significant relationship between total positive perception and satisfaction scores (r s =0.042, p = 0.098), indicating that high institutional regard does not systematically translate into individual service satisfaction. Conclusion A significant "perception-satisfaction gap" exists in the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector. Despite high, uniform public perception of the pharmacist’s professional role, satisfaction on the specific items that make up the scale remains moderate and inconsistent. Policy interventions must move beyond image-building to prioritize standardizing patient-pharmacist encounters, ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery across all demographic and geographical strata.