title: Patients' expectations of the role of the community pharmacist: Development and testing of a conceptual model.
abstract: The roles of community pharmacists are evolving to include provision of expanded professional pharmacy services, thus leading to an increased interest in pharmacist-patient interactions. Role theory can be used to explain the interaction between this pair of individuals, by focusing on the roles performed by each one.
  
  
  
  To develop and test a model that relates patients' image of the pharmacist to their expectations of pharmacist's role, and how this then influences patients' reactions toward the pharmacist's role.
  
  
  
  A qualitative study was undertaken, and a questionnaire was created for the development of the model, based on role theory. The content, dimensions, validity and reliability of the questionnaire were pre-tested qualitatively and in a pilot mail survey. The reliability and validity of the proposed model were tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to explain relationships between dimensions of the final model.
  
  
  
  A final model was developed. CFA concluded that the model was valid and reliable (Goodness of Fit indices: χ2(109) = 227.662, P = 0.000, RMSEA = 0.05, SRMR = 0.05, GFI = 1.00, NNFI = 0.90, CFI = 0.92). SEM indicated that "perceived pharmacist image" was associated positively and significantly with both "professional expectations" (the standardized path coefficient of (H) = 0.719, P < 0.05), as well as "courtesy expectations" (the standardized path coefficient of (H) = 0.582, P < 0.05). At the same time, "professional expectations" were associated positively and significantly with "positive reactions" (the standardized path coefficient of (H) = 0.358, P < 0.05), but negatively with "Negative reactions" (the standardized path coefficient of (H) = -0.427, P < 0.05). "Courtesy expectations" were associated positively and significantly with "positive reactions" (the standardized path coefficient of (H) = 0.081, P < 0.05), as well as "negative reactions" (the standardized path coefficient of (H) = 0.450, P < 0.05).
  
  
  
  A valid and reliable model of patients' image of the pharmacist related to their expectations and reactions to the pharmacist's role was developed and tested. When the perceived image of the pharmacist is enhanced, patients' expectations of the pharmacist are heightened; in turn, these expectations were associated with reactions of patients.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; Graduate School of Health, Pharmacy, University of Technology Sydney, Building 7, Level 4, 64 Jones St., P.O. Box 123, Ultimo, 2007 NSW, Australia. Electronic address: msabatergalindo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabater-Galindo
authors.affiliation: School of Economics and Business, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, s/n, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruiz de Maya
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health, Pharmacy, University of Technology Sydney, Building 7, Level 4, 64 Jones St., P.O. Box 123, Ultimo, 2007 NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Shalom I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Benrimoj
authors.affiliation: Academic Centre in Pharmaceutical Care, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gastelurrutia
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; Academic Centre in Pharmaceutical Care, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health, Pharmacy, University of Technology Sydney, Building 7, Level 4, 64 Jones St., P.O. Box 123, Ultimo, 2007 NSW, Australia; Academic Centre in Pharmaceutical Care, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sabater-Hernández
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Community pharmacist image; Community pharmacy service; Patients; Structural equation modelling