Open AccessMedicine‐related questions handled by community pharmacists: an exploratory study
Author(s) -
Rutter Paul M.,
Warren Sharon,
Rutter Jill
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of pharmacy practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.42
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 2042-7174
pISSN - 0961-7671
DOI - 10.1211/ijpp.17.05.0009
Subject(s) - medicine , exploratory research , family medicine , harm , data collection , alternative medicine , scale (ratio) , quality (philosophy) , nursing , medical education , psychology , social psychology , philosophy , statistics , physics , mathematics , epistemology , pathology , quantum mechanics , sociology , anthropology
Objectives The objectives of this study were to determine what type of medicine‐related questions community pharmacists were asked and to ascertain whether responses given were appropriate. Methods All community pharmacists from three Primary Care Trusts were invited to participate in a week‐long exploratory study. Piloted data‐collection forms were self‐completed. Data were analysed descriptively using Microsoft Excel and statistical tests conducted with Minitab. Key findings Sixty‐six medicines‐related questions were answered by participating pharmacists. The type of questions asked were varied and asked by patients, the general public and health care professionals. Most answers (over 80%) were assessed as being appropriate; only four questions raised concern with assessors that possible patient harm may have resulted. Almost half (42%) of the questions were answered without consultation to any reference source. Conclusions Despite the small‐scale nature of the study the findings show that community pharmacists provide a good‐quality service that is easily accessible to all people. However, the failure to use reference sources may impact on pharmacists' ability to answer medicine‐related questions fully.