Attitudes of the general public to the expanding role of community pharmacists: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
The extension of the role of the community pharmacist in the UK has been under discussion for several years. Professional opinions have been reported. It is important to investigate consumer attitudes towards the acceptability of the proposed new role of the pharmacist.


OBJECTIVE
This pilot study investigated the attitudes of consumers to the proposed extended role of the community pharmacist.


METHODS
A total of 173 printed questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of patients stratified by age and sex, registered with an urban general practice in the north east of Scotland. The questionnaire asked subjects their views on ideas for new services to be provided by community pharmacists.


RESULTS
A total of 96 questionnaires were returned (response rate 55%). Respondents were in favour of community pharmacist involvement in non-medicine-related roles such as 'healthy living' advice but less in favour of roles where the pharmacist would have access to selected information from medical records.


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study has indicated a range of attitudes towards the extended role of the community pharmacist. It is important to investigate fully consumer attitudes towards the acceptability of the new role of the pharmacist.
Iversen
L
L
Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, UK.
Mollison
J
J
MacLeod
T N
TN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000592:standards*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires