Evaluation of adherence to the patients' bill of rights charter in pharmacies in Iran: a descriptive-correlational study

Adherence to the patients' Bill of rights charter is crucial in ensuring ethical and equitable healthcare delivery, fostering trust between patients and healthcare providers. The patients' Bill of rights charter provides a framework for defending patients' rights in various situations and addressing their needs without discrimination. However, evidence regarding this issue within Iran's healthcare system appears to be ambiguous and contradictory. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate adherence to the patients' Bill of rights in pharmacies in Rasht, the largest and most populated city in northern Iran.

This descriptive-correlational study was approved by the research committee of Guilan university of medical sciences and was conducted on 437 individuals visiting pharmacies in Rasht during the years 2021-2022. Data were collected using a convenience sampling method, employing a demographic information form and a questionnaire on adherence to the patients' Bill of rights charter. Data analysis was performed with SPSS version 26.

The mean score for adherence to the patients' Bill of rights charter in pharmacies was 34.16 ± 11.22. The majority of participants were female (72.5%) and aged between 25 and 31 years (29.7%). The results indicated that the mean score for adherence to the Patients' Bill of Rights Charter in pharmacies was 34.16 ± 11.22. The results of the one-way ANOVA test indicated a significant association between age and educational level with adherence to the Patients' Rights Charter (p < 0.05). To predict the score for adherence to the Patients' Rights, demographic variables were included in the regression model. The results indicated that two variables, age and education, could predict the level of adherence to the Patients' Bill of Rights Charter.

Adherence to the Patients' Rights Charter within Iran's healthcare system appears to be unsatisfactory. It seems essential for policymakers to enhance patient satisfaction regarding their rights by providing ongoing training to increase staff awareness, developing strong policies for the protection of patients' rights, and closely monitoring the implementation of these policies.