Patient Satisfaction with Pharmacy Services at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross River State, South South Nigeria

Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of healthcare quality and can directly influence medication adherence and therapeutic outcomes. This study assessed patient satisfaction with pharmacy services at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross River State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 outpatients who had visited the hospital pharmacy within a six-week data collection period. A validated, self-administered questionnaire measured satisfaction across five domains including waiting time, staff attitude, drug availability, counseling quality, and overall service experience. Findings indicated that satisfaction levels were moderate overall, with a mean satisfaction score of 3.1 out of 5. Drug availability was the greatest source of dissatisfaction, with 58 percent of patients reporting frequent stockouts of prescribed medications. Waiting times exceeding 45 minutes were reported by 49 percent of respondents, and inadequate counseling was identified by 34 percent as a concern. Paradoxically, pharmacist friendliness and communication were rated positively by 71 percent of respondents. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher among those who received detailed medication counseling. These results suggest that improvements in drug supply chain management and workflow optimization could substantially enhance patient experience. Hospital administration and pharmacy management are encouraged to implement structured performance monitoring systems and patient feedback mechanisms to drive continuous quality improvement. Keywords: patient satisfaction, pharmacy services, teaching hospital, Calabar, drug availability