Effect of strategic planning education on attitudes and perceptions of independent community pharmacy owners/managers.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of formal education program participation on the attitudes and perceptions of independent community pharmacy owners/managers toward strategic planning.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
United States; June 4-July 30, 2004.


METHODS
Nationwide random sample of 1,250 owners/managers of independent community pharmacies.


METHODS
Mailed survey.


METHODS
Strategic planning formal education program participation. Comprehensiveness of strategic planning. Attitudes and perceptions of owners/managers of independent community pharmacies toward strategic planning.


RESULTS
A total of 527 (42.1%) usable questionnaires were returned. Only 124 (23.5%) respondents indicated that they participated in a formal strategic planning education program. However, of the 141 (26.85%) respondents who indicated that they had conducted strategic planning for their community pharmacy, 111 (89.5%) had participated in a formal strategic planning education program. A significant association was detected between formal education program participation and the conducting of strategic planning (P< or =0.0001). Significant differences were observed for all attitudes and perceptions of independent community pharmacy owners/managers toward strategic planning based on program participation (P< or =0.0001). Finally, respondents who indicated that they had participated in a formal education program had a significantly higher comprehensiveness of strategic planning rating than those respondents who did not participate in an educational program (P< or =0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
A significant association exists between formal strategic planning education program participation and the conducting of strategic planning by owner/managers of independent community pharmacies, and those participating in such programs have significantly different attitudes and perceptions toward the conducting of strategic planning and have a significantly higher comprehensiveness of strategic planning rating.
Harrison
Donald L
DL
College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, USA. donald-harrison@ouhsc.edu
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010605:Pharmacy Administration / Q000193:education*; D010934:Planning Techniques; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States