Mapping Real-World Data to Self-Reported Information to Explore Determinants of Location Selection for Community Pharmacies in Taiwan

Background: Easy and adequate access to community pharmacies is key to eliminating primary barriers to the utilization of medicines and healthcare services. The location of community pharmacies is important for patients and providers when choosing and opening a pharmacy, but only a handful of studies investigate factors associated with the geographical distribution of pharmacies. This study aimed to identify decisive factors for location selection when starting a pharmacy among districts/townships in Taiwan. Methods: This cross-sectional mixed mode study employed an explanatory sequential design, beginning with a quantitative analysis of national datasets, and followed by a qualitative analysis of structured interviews. The national data were extracted from the Taiwan government database of 2020, and the qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 community pharmacists through a snowball sampling in 2021. A multiple linear regression was conducted to identify salient predictors of the number of community pharmacies in each of the 368 districts/townships in Taiwan, including population density, median annual household income, number of physician offices, area, and proportion of female residents of each district/township. Ten chief pharmacists were interviewed to share viewpoints on the decision-making process of their selection of current pharmacy practice sites. Inductive thematic analysis was performed to extract factors pertinent to location selection for pharmacy operations and services. Results: Confirmed by quantitative and qualitative data, population density, numbers of physician offices, median annual household income, pharmacy operation type, and type of retail locations are key determinants for site selection in considering opening a new community pharmacy. Conclusion: The study uncovers salient factors associated with the choice of community pharmacy location in Taiwan and proposes the adequate number of physician offices that a community pharmacy can collaborate with. In addition, pharmacists should prudently consider if their preferred service features match the needs of residents.