title: Investigation on barriers to pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies: a structural equation model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The concept of pharmaceutical care (PhC) has been popular in pharmacy during past decades. However, in some countries, including Iran, it does not seem to mature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify and prioritize barriers to the provision of PhC in Iranian community pharmacies, based on the perceptions of community pharmacists in Tehran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August and November 2013, a cross-sectional descriptive study was performed using an anonymous questionnaire asking the pharmacists' perceptions on the implementation of PhC. Of the 2000 invited community pharmacists, 505 pharmacists responded. A descriptive analysis, was conducted, and the data were also analyzed through structural equation modeling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Priorities of barriers to the implementation of PhC in Iran.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five major dimensions included in the survey instrument were confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. According to the model developed based on pharmacists' opinions, lack of pharmacists' skills and lack of appropriate regulation and environment are the two most important barriers of the provision of PhC, and the least important is lack of resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that the main barriers to PhC in Iran are the lack of skills and of appropriate regulation and environment. These main barriers are different from those mentioned in studies conducted in other countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharma Management, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Vali-e Asr Ave., Niayesh Junction, Tehran, Iran, gmehralian@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gholamhossein
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mehralian
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rangchian
authors.forename: Athar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javadi
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peiravian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation