Perceptions of quality and value in state and local pharmacy professional organizations

Officer and member perceptions of the quality and value of the services provided by American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) state affiliates and local chapters were studied. A survey was mailed in December 2000 to all 249 state society and local-chapter officers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, and Illinois and a random sample of 1191 members. The survey solicited ratings of the quality and value of programs and services related to continuing education, communications, community service, and membership benefits. Of 1440 surveys mailed, 26 were returned as undeliverable; 308 were returned in usable form, for a total response rate of 22%. The most frequent job categories were hospital staff pharmacist (n = 74), hospital pharmacy manager (n = 66), and hospital clinical pharmacist (n = 49). Overall, members perceived lower quality than officers in clinical and administrative continuing-education programs offered by their local chapters. Members also perceived less value in administrative continuing-education programs than did officers. Member and officer perceptions were similar in the areas of communication and community services. Neither members nor officers appeared to value social functions highly as a membership benefit. A survey of state and local affiliates of ASHP in five states identified several areas where officers and members had different perceptions of the quality and value of services provided by these organizations.