Table 2 Overview of the main categories and sub-categories and open codes

Theme 1. Perceptions of hospital pharmacists and pharmacy services

1.1 Inadequate perceptions of hospital pharmacists and pharmacy services

Lack of contact

Only have the concept of a pharmacist

Only know about pharmacist and no contact

Don’t know what a pharmacist does

1.2 Low recognition of clinical pharmacists and pharmacy services

Pharmacists only have the right to advise

Pharmacists can not give professional guidance

Theme 2. Demand for pharmacy service content

2.1 Blood drug concentration monitoring

When and how to monitor the drug concentration

2.2 Management of potential drug interactions

Drug interactions

2.3 Guidance on the rational use of drugs

Consult the pharmacists for complications

2.4 Management of adverse drug reactions

Deal with adverse drug reactions

Inadequate advice from the doctor

2.5 Popularization education of pharmacy knowledge

Lack of knowledge related to medicine

Science popularization

Popularize knowledge about hepatotoxicity induced by medicine

Theme 3. Expectations of the form of pharmacy services

3.1 Multidisciplinary and collaborative pharmacy services

Cooperation between physicians and pharmacists

Combination between physicians and pharmacists

Advice from the pharmacist

3.2 Full life-cycle pharmacy service

Involvement of the pharmacist

3.3 Convenient pharmacy services

Ask the pharmacists not the doctor for help

Professional platform for inquires

A phone or WeChat providing pharmacy services

Lack of consultation way

Theme 4. Difficulties in rational drug use as a special group

4.1 Inadequate medical resources

Lack of pharmacy clinic

General Practitioners can not answer me

4.2 Medication adherence dilemma

Forget to take medicine

4.3 Strong sense of confusion

Doubt about the doses of medicine

Confusion with drug-food interaction