Pharmacists' expectation and performance of patient care functions

Susan Shirley Johnson, Purdue University

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine the extent to which pharmacists believe that the practice of pharmacy should be responsible for 15 patient care functions as compared to the extent to which pharmacists perform those functions. Factors that limit and encourage performance of functions were examined, as were pharmacists' preferences for leadership forces. A mail survey was developed that contained individual background questions regarding demographic, practice and professional association membership. Pharmacists' expectations of responsibility were assessed with a seven point Likert-type scale (1—Strongly Disagree to 7—Strongly Agree) and performance was assessed with a six point scale (1—Never to 6—Always). Respondents were asked to select limiting and encouraging factors for each function from a list of 38 options and rate on a seven point scale (1—Strongly Disagree to 7—Strongly Agree) the degree of leadership that each of the 13 forces of change should have in shaping pharmacy's future. Surveys were sent to 3210 licensed pharmacists nationwide and there were 995 respondents (31 response rate). Data were analyzed on a subset of 359 full time practitioners who had completely responded to a specified portion of the survey. The grand mean expectation score was 5.63 and ranged from 4.75 to 6.45 for the various functions. The grand mean performance score was 3.80 and ranged from 2.64 to 5.26 for the various functions. Based on categorization of individual scores, respondents were primarily considered high expectation/high performance for most functions, although some functions generated more high expectation/low performance responses. Practice site and title had significant effects on the expectation and performance of functions. The primary limiters of performance were insufficient time and contact with patients and primary encouragers were inclusion of the function in caring for patients' health and sufficient educational background. Practicing pharmacists identified themselves as the primary leadership force. It is concluded that pharmacists do expect that pharmacy should assume responsibility for patient care functions and that pharmacists are performing these functions. Further study of the expectation and performance of patient care functions should be conducted with successful pharmaceutical care practitioners and include the functions associated with pharmaceutical care outcome measurements.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Mason, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Pharmaceuticals|Health care|Sociology

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