title: Counseling provided by the pharmacist in Romanian community pharmacies: the patients' perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patient education is a critical task that may be carried out by the pharmacists, especially in the context of contemporary pharmacists' roles, which tend to be closer to patients and their needs. This study aimed to evaluate the counseling provided by the pharmacist in the community pharmacy, from the patient's perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective, non-interventional study in 520 pharmacies from 10 Romanian counties across the country. The first 10 visitors of the pharmacy on a given day were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the counseling provided by the pharmacist during the visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 90% of patients received advice from the pharmacist on the route of administration, use in relation to meals, dosage and length of treatment. More than 80% of the patients were counseled on the medicine contraindications and precautions, interactions with other medicines and food, side effects, additional changes in lifestyle and diet appropriate to the condition and the necessity to immediately consult a doctor/pharmacist in case of adverse drug reactions. Lower percentages were registered for advising the patient on the obligation to return to pharmacy the unused psychotropic drugs (38.04%) and the ability of the drug to modify the laboratory results (47.66).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study showed that the counseling activity in the community pharmacy is carried out by the pharmacists in a high proportion, according to the patients' feedback.
authors.affiliation: Drug Information Research Center, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihaela Ela
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Iancu
authors.affiliation: Drug Information Research Center, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bucsa
authors.affiliation: Drug Information Research Center, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Andreea Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Farcas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Daniel-Corneliu
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Leucuta
authors.affiliation: Romanian Institute for Evaluation and Strategy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dincu
authors.affiliation: Drug Information Research Center, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Marius Traian
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bojita
keywords: community pharmacy services; medication therapy management; patient counseling