Apteekri rolli muutumine – elanike ootused ja hoiakud
Date
2010
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tartu Ülikool
Abstract
Description
The objective of the study „Changes in the role of a pharmacist – the expectations and attitude
of populace,” was to investigate the readiness of the populace of Estonia for the changes in
the role of the pharmacist and the accompanying expectations to the pharmacist.
As the quality and reliability of counseling service is very important for maintaining a good
level of healthcare for the populace the current product (sales) focused pharmacy service is
being replaced with patient centered pharmaceutical care. This study evaluates the changes in
the image of pharmacist and readiness of populace for cooperation with the pharmacist as a
counselor in primary care medicine, to further the development of counseling process.
Objective of this study was to chart the needs, assessments and expectations of the client for
the counseling carried out in the pharmacies (also exposing possible risks and weaknesses).
In gathering information three methods were combined: focal groups, individual interview
and observation. With focal groups and interviews the assessment of pharmacy service was
gathered from 8 men and 12 women aged 21 to 82 years originating from towns as well as
countryside. The transcriptions were analyzed with cross-case method focusing on citations
and integral principles. To contextualize the gathered assessments with the proportions of
general practice a cross-section type observation was carried out in the Pharmacy of Tartu
University on 15.02.10, filing all visitors (320) during one workday.
Based on the gathered results the stereotype of a pharmacist in all age groups is similarly a
„drug counselor“- the preconditions for successful counseling have been met.
There are no shortfalls in discretion and the patient-pharmacist relationship can be considered
good. When the gender of the pharmacist dose not affect the counseling service directly, age
of the pharmacist is associated with reliability (even professional qualification is secondary to
experience). Depending on client’s individual shyness and impatience queues cause
inconveniences, which gives advantage to bigger pharmacies, but there are no obstacles to
counseling from pharmacist’s part. Improving the availability of pharmacy service measures
supporting privacy might be of help, for example the use of a queue line.
Assessment of the vocational knowledge concerning over the counter medicine in good.
Sometimes the competence of a pharmacist is evaluated higher than that of a doctor. The
reliability of the professionals is practically equal; either specialist is trusted in their own field
of competence. Readiness for cooperation and counseling exists especially in over the counter
medicine. The importance of a pharmacist in prescription medicines is still undervalued.
Of a pharmacist personal, situation based and client oriented counseling in the complete range
of pharmacy products is expected. Though the most common questions are limited to OTC
and simpler health conditions, more additional information is needed by the risk groups
(parents with small children, patients with chronic disease).
To satisfy all information needs of different clients a pharmacist should know about all
pharmacy products the answers to the following questions: What is inside the product? What
effect it has? Which is cheaper? More appropriate in given situation (for pregnant women,
children, in co-medication)? What are the advantages and disadvantages? How to use it?
Warnings about side-effects and interactions are considered especially important. However
compared to earlier studies the activity of patients participating in drug decisions has not
changed significantly.
Expectation to pharmacist’s initiative depends on types of personality, but considering the
dangers associated with blind experimenter, too knowledgeable and trusting patients the
responsibility for risk management remains pharmacists. The given results correspond to the
need for standardized counseling service accentuated in primary care medicine development
plan, to help avoid the conflict between patient and pharmacist induced by the difference of
expectations and information needs.
In addition to answering specific questions the pharmacist should concentrate on quality and
comprehensibility of explanations. The preconditions and readiness to successfully further
introduce counseling service do exist, but the initiative must come from the pharmacist.
Keywords
magistritööd, meditsiin, farmaatsia, apteekrid, tervishoiutöötajad, elukutsed, hoiakud