Pharmaceutical care in chain pharmacies: beliefs and attitudes of pharmacists and patients.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss with pharmacists and patients with reactive airways disease their beliefs about pharmaceutical care and the pharmacist's role in health care, obstacles to providing pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies, and strategies to overcome these obstacles.


METHODS
Two focus groups of patients, two focus groups of pharmacists.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with reactive airways disease and 11 chain pharmacists.


METHODS
Qualitative reports on the pharmacist's role in health care delivery and obstacles to implementing pharmaceutical care programs.


RESULTS
Pharmacists wished to provide pharmaceutical care, and patients were supportive of pharmacists' involvement in their health care. Both viewed counseling as an important role for pharmacists and believed that pharmacists should work with patients' physicians. Reported obstacles included lack of time, inadequate privacy, and pharmacists' lack of direct access to patients' physicians. Pharmacists and patients believed pharmacists should have access to patient-specific clinical data.


CONCLUSIONS
Focus groups provided valuable information for designing pragmatic pharmaceutical care. The obstacles and possible solutions identified through the discussions represent fertile ground for designing innovative pharmaceutical care programs.
Amsler
M R
MR
Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Murray
M D
MD
Tierney
W M
WM
Brewer
N
N
Harris
L E
LE
Marrero
D G
DG
Weinberger
M
M
D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic