Extracting Low-Cost Signals of Perceived Quality Control in Community Pharmacies: A Simulated Client Study of Contraceptive Dispensing in Bogotá

Tatiana Andia; César Mantilla; Álvaro Morales; Santiago Ortiz; Paul Rodríguez-Lesmes

doi:10.17533/udea.le.n96a344243

Extracting Low-Cost Signals of Perceived Quality Control in Community Pharmacies: A Simulated Client Study of Contraceptive Dispensing in Bogotá

Título traducido de la contribución: Señales de bajo costo sobre las percepciones del control de calidad en farmacias: un estudio de clientes simulados para el despacho de anticonceptivos en Bogotá

Tatiana Andia, César Mantilla, Álvaro Morales, Santiago Ortiz, Paul Rodríguez-Lesmes

Producción: Contribución a una revista › Artículo › revisión exhaustiva

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Resumen

En este artículo determinamos si las farmacias en Bogotá producen señales diferenciales de calidad, y si están relacionadas con una medida de calidad objetiva: el cumplimiento de las reglas de prescripción. En este estudio descriptivo cuantitativo, utilizamos la metodología de clientes simulados (N = 298) para evaluar si las farmacias de Bogotá cumplen con las reglas de prescripción relacionadas con los medicamentos anticonceptivos. Encontramos que el uno por ciento del personal de la farmacia pidió una receta cuando se solicitaron las píldoras. El cinco por ciento del personal formuló preguntas adicionales que indican conocimiento o interés en la correcta administración de las píldoras. No encontramos diferencias por nivel socioeconómico o tipo de propiedad de la farmacia (es decir, empresa grande versus independiente) con respecto a la solicitud de recetas o preguntas adicionales sobre las píldoras. En cuanto a las señales estéticas de calidad, las farmacias independientes tenían menos probabilidades de mostrar un diploma de su químico y la probabilidad de que su personal vistiera batas blancas también era menor. Concluimos que la diferenciación de las farmacias comunitarias de Bogotá se basa en simples señales asociadas a una imagen profesional, pero no a procedimientos reales que garanticen la seguridad de los consumidores.

Título traducido de la contribución	Señales de bajo costo sobre las percepciones del control de calidad en farmacias: un estudio de clientes simulados para el despacho de anticonceptivos en Bogotá
Idioma original	Inglés
Páginas (desde-hasta)	9-30
Número de páginas	22
Publicación	Lecturas de Economia
N.º	96
DOI	https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.le.n96a344243
Estado	Publicada - ene. 2022
Publicado de forma externa	Sí

Palabras clave

farmacias
fármacos
medicamentos
clientes simulados
anticonceptivos

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10.17533/udea.le.n96a344243

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title = "Extracting Low-Cost Signals of Perceived Quality Control in Community Pharmacies: A Simulated Client Study of Contraceptive Dispensing in Bogot{\'a}",

abstract = "We determine whether community pharmacies in Bogot{\'a} produce differential quality signals, and if they are related to an objective quality measure: the compliance with prescription rules. In this quantitative descriptive study, we use the simulated client methodology (N=298) to assess whether Bogota{\textquoteright}s community pharmacies comply with prescription rules related to contraceptive medications. We find that one per cent of the staff at the pharmacy asked for a prescription when the pills were requested. Five per cent of the staff asked additional questions that signal knowledge or interest in the correct delivery of pills. We do not find differences by socio-economic level or type of pharmacy ownership (i.e., large firm versus independent) regarding the request of prescriptions or further questions about the pills. Concerning the aesthetic signals of quality, independent pharmacies were less likely to display a diploma of their chemist, and the likelihood that their staff wore white coats was also lower. We conclude that Bogota{\textquoteright}s community pharmacies differentiation is based on simple signals associated with a professional image, but not with actual procedures that guarantee the safety of consumers.",

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author = "Tatiana Andia and C{\'e}sar Mantilla and {\'A}lvaro Morales and Santiago Ortiz and Paul Rodr{\'i}guez-Lesmes",

year = "2022",

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doi = "10.17533/udea.le.n96a344243",

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AU - Andia, Tatiana

AU - Mantilla, César

AU - Morales, Álvaro

AU - Ortiz, Santiago

AU - Rodríguez-Lesmes, Paul

PY - 2022/1

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AB - We determine whether community pharmacies in Bogotá produce differential quality signals, and if they are related to an objective quality measure: the compliance with prescription rules. In this quantitative descriptive study, we use the simulated client methodology (N=298) to assess whether Bogota’s community pharmacies comply with prescription rules related to contraceptive medications. We find that one per cent of the staff at the pharmacy asked for a prescription when the pills were requested. Five per cent of the staff asked additional questions that signal knowledge or interest in the correct delivery of pills. We do not find differences by socio-economic level or type of pharmacy ownership (i.e., large firm versus independent) regarding the request of prescriptions or further questions about the pills. Concerning the aesthetic signals of quality, independent pharmacies were less likely to display a diploma of their chemist, and the likelihood that their staff wore white coats was also lower. We conclude that Bogota’s community pharmacies differentiation is based on simple signals associated with a professional image, but not with actual procedures that guarantee the safety of consumers.

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KW - clientes simulados

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Extracting Low-Cost Signals of Perceived Quality Control in Community Pharmacies: A Simulated Client Study of Contraceptive Dispensing in Bogotá

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