Challenges of Hospital Pharmacists in Inventory Management for Sub-district Health Promotion Hospitals in Nakhonsawan Province

Abstract

Objective: To study the challenges of inventory management of medical supplies in sub-district health promotion hospitals (SDHPHs), and to study the components of job characteristics causing the challenges for the hospital pharmacists in Nakhonsawan. Method: This study was a descriptive study collecting quantitative data with data record forms and questionnaires, and collecting qualitative data with focus group discussions and interview with 13 hospital pharmacists. Results: Most hospital pharmacists showed a moderate level of overall challenge in inventory management with a median (interquartile range) of 3.07 (2.78, 3.41). There were management challenges in working with staff from various professions, the use of skills to coordinate with administrators, and driving all involved parties to work together. When considering job positions, most chief pharmacists reported challenges in initiating new work that no one else had done before. They recognized their roles as leaders who set operational guidelines for improving work. While most practicing pharmacists perceived that they did not have decision-making power for the whole jobs, leading to the lacking of challenges to jobs with high risk. Moreover, they felt not only the practice of hospital pharmacists, but also the practice of officers in SDHPHs affected the accreditation result on starred SDHPHs. Conclusions: The challenges in inventory management faced by most hospital pharmacists were working with staff and coordinating with management and all involved parties. Different job position resulted in different job challenges.