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Objective: To improve pharmaceutical care delivery in Malaysia, the Ministry of Health (MOH) had introduced the concept of value added services (VAS). Despite its reported convenience and advantages, VAS utilization rate is low in the country. The study aims to explore patients’ understanding, beliefs and expectations towards VAS in Malaysia using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as the theoretical model. Methods: A qualitative methodology was used whereby face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with 12 patients who collected partial medicine supplies from government pharmacies. Participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling method in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Interviews were audio‐recorded. Verbatim transcription and thematic content analysis were performed on the data. Results: Thematic content analysis yielded five major themes: (i) attitudes towards using VAS, (ii) subjective norms, (iii) perceived behavioural control, (iv) lack of knowledge and understanding of VAS and (v) expectations towards VAS. Conclusion: The interviews explored and informed new information about salient beliefs towards pharmacy VAS. The findings suggest that VAS is still in its infancy and a more robust and effective advertising and marketing campaign is needed to boost the adoption rate. Behavioural attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control elements were discussed and serve as important variables of interest in future study. Expectations towards VAS serve as an important guideline to further improve patient‐oriented services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pharmacy value added services (PVAS) was introduced as a matter of public health policy by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health to improve health outcomes through public healthcare services. For example, drive through pharmacy services is a major policy implementation of the Ministry. However, adoption rates are low and therefore hampering the achievement of national health policy goals. Objective: Our objective is to explore the key determinants and mediators of successful implementation of new public pharmaceutical services by investigating the cognitive perspectives of patients’ intentions to adopt with the Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical framework. Methods: A two phase mixed methodology involving first a qualitative exploration and the second a quantitative phase was conducted in public health facilities in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Multiple regression and mediation analysis were performed. Results: Subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, knowledge and expectations are found to be significant predictors of intentions to adopt PVAS. Knowledge and expectations are found to exert significant indirect effects on intentions. Conclusion: Overall, we suggest that patient knowledge be enhanced through appropriate channels and expectations of service quality be met to increase intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In a large natural experiment, Pharmacy Value Added Services (PVAS) was introduced by the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Services Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia to improve the delivery of pharmaceutical care to patients. PVAS in the Malaysian context and definition refers to a group of new innovative pharmacy services including Pharmacy Drive Through, Postal Medicine, Integrated Drug Dispensing System, and SMS and Collect. Despite the convenience and advantages of PVAS, patients' adoption rate is still low. Objectives: This article aims to discuss, explore, compare and report the beginnings, definitions, early implementations, types of services offered and the challenges faced by the implementers of these services to derive policy lessons, implications and recommendations. Methods: We utilize a comparative discussion to highlight the various PVAS globally in comparison with the Malaysian experience. A further literature review is used to explore, contrast and highlight the implementation as well as the challenges of PVAS adoption in Malaysia to derive policy lessons, implications and recommendations. Results: PVAS is still new in Malaysia and requires much more work to increase its reach to its intended audience. We suggest numerous methods to increase its adoption rate. Overall, we suggest that PVAS be a key focus for Malaysian community pharmacies so that pharmaceutical services in Malaysia can achieve parity with advanced countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]