General practitioners' and pharmacists' perceptions of the role of community pharmacists in delivering clinical services.
BACKGROUND
Because community pharmacists are encouraged to provide clinical services, there is a need to determine the role perceptions of both community pharmacists and general practitioners (primary care physicians). Differing role perceptions are likely to result in barriers to pharmacists expanding their roles in health care.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether community pharmacists' and general practitioner's perceptions of the role of community pharmacists may be a barrier to pharmacists increasing their role in medication management. Other potential barriers were also explored that could provide a framework for future research.


METHODS
A postal survey to 900 and 1000 randomly selected community pharmacists and general practitioners, respectively, elicited the perceptions of these groups toward the role of community pharmacists. Likert scales were used to quantify the results.


RESULTS
The results revealed a gap in perceptions regarding the role of the community pharmacist, with general acceptance of the technical roles but less acceptance of clinical roles by general practitioners. Barriers to increased involvement of community pharmacists in clinical services included a perceived lack of mandate, legitimacy, adequacy, and effectiveness by both groups. Also observed was a lack of readiness to change by community pharmacists.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that there are significant barriers to community pharmacists increasing clinical services, both from the community pharmacists themselves and from the general practitioners. Attention to change management in a complex environment will be necessary if community pharmacists are to change their role toward more clinical services.
Bryant
Linda J M
LJ
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, PO Box 92 019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. linda@cpsl.biz
Coster
Gregor
G
Gamble
Greg D
GD
McCormick
Ross N
RN
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000639:trends*; D003376:Counseling; D003625:Data Collection; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000639:trends*; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000639:trends*; D024382:Professional Role