title: Perceptions of pharmacists' roles in the era of expanding scopes of practice.
abstract: Alberta was the first province in Canada to enact legislative changes to permit expansion of pharmacists' scope of practice, including allowing pharmacists to prescribe. However, such changes to the scope of practice can blur professional boundaries and obscure the roles of pharmacists. Understanding perceptions about the pharmacist's role may provide insight into recent and historical changes in pharmacy practice. This study clarifies perceptions held by pharmacists and other stakeholders concerning the role of the pharmacist in society.
  
  
  
  To understand the perceptions of pharmacists, pharmacy students, technicians, other health care professionals, and the public of the pharmacist's role in Alberta.
  
  
  
  A mixed methods approach was used: focus group sessions (n = 9) and individual interviews (n = 4) of pharmacists and other stakeholders were conducted and analyzed using qualitative-descriptive approach. A web-based survey of Alberta pharmacists (n = 416) explored pharmacists' perceptions of their own roles.
  
  
  
  Data analysis revealed the following: participants perceived that the pharmacist's role was transitioning to focus more on patient care; consistency in pharmacist uptake of this new role shaped the public's expectations; pharmacists with expanded scopes of practice were assuming greater responsibility; collaboration and relationships with other health care professionals were essential. The survey confirmed that changes in the roles of pharmacists were primarily related to patient care.
  
  
  
  Following legislative changes and implementation of a compensation framework for pharmacy services, pharmacists and other stakeholders perceived the pharmacist's role to be shifting toward patient care. Periodic revisiting of pharmacists' roles and professional activities is needed to evaluate changes over time.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, 3-171 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada.
authors.forename: Theresa J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Schindel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, 3-171 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada.
authors.forename: Nese
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, 3-171 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Breault
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, 2-198 Enterprise Square, 10230 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4P6, Canada.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, 2-198 Enterprise Square, 10230 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4P6, Canada.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varnhagen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, 3-171 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada. Electronic address: christine.hughes@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians / Q000523:psychology*; D024382:Professional Role; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Collaboration; Mixed methods; Patient care; Pharmacist roles; Prescribing