title: Physician agreement regarding the expansion of pharmacist professional activities in the management of patients with asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma control remains suboptimal in Canada. Expansion of pharmacist's professional activities offers the opportunity to improve the interdisciplinary management of patients with asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the level of agreement of physicians regarding the expansion of pharmacists' professional activities in the management of asthma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey of randomly selected Quebec physicians in family medicine, paediatrics and emergency medicine. A 102-item questionnaire, including 10 questions regarding pharmacist's expanded professional activities, was sent using the Tailored Design Method. Questions were answered on a 6-point Likert-like scale (0 - strong disagreement to 5 - strong agreement).
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a 56% response rate, 421 (250 family medicine, 115 paediatric and 56 emergency medicine) physicians participated; the median years of practice (25%, 75%) was 13 (5-21) years and 69% of respondents were women. Physicians were in favour of the expansion of pharmacist's professional activities with strong endorsement rates (rating of ≥4 on a maximum of 5) exceeding 60% for all but three activities: suggesting a written action plan to the physician (55%), adjusting the dose of prescribed asthma medication to achieve a therapeutic target (52%) and offering spirometry testing in pharmacies (45%). Emergency physicians, physicians with fewer years of practice, and those with a favourable perception of an interprofessional approach were associated with higher endorsement of these activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians are favourable to the expansion of pharmacist activities in the management of patients with asthma. More complex activities were less frequently endorsed. The characteristics of strong intenders have been identified.
authors: Clinical Research and Knowledge Transfer Unit on Childhood Asthma, Research Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Audrey
authors: A
authors: Tilly-Gratton
authors: Clinical Research and Knowledge Transfer Unit on Childhood Asthma, Research Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Alexandrine
authors: A
authors: Lamontagne
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Lucie
authors: L
authors: Blais
authors: Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada.|Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Simon L
authors: SL
authors: Bacon
authors: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.|Division of Clinical Epidemiology (MUHC) Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Ernst
authors: Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Grad
authors: Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.|Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Kim L
authors: KL
authors: Lavoie
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Martha L
authors: ML
authors: McKinney
authors: Applied Clinical Research Unit, Research Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Eve
authors: E
authors: Desplats
authors: Clinical Research and Knowledge Transfer Unit on Childhood Asthma, Research Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.|Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.|Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Francine M
authors: FM
authors: Ducharme
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010595:Pharmacists; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D024382:Professional Role
keywords: asthma; pharmacist; physician agreement; survey