PHARMACIST QUESTION-ASKING IN NEW-MEXICO COMMUNITY PHARMACIES

An investigation was undertaken to examine the frequency, content, and type of pharmacist question-asking in New Mexico community pharmacies . A total of 344 pharmacy personnel-patient interactions were observed in eight community pharmacies. Pharmacists or interns interacted with patients in only 57 percent of the observed encounters. Pharmacists a sked drug therapy questions during only 36 percent of their interactio ns with patients. Ninety-three percent of the drug therapy questions a sked by pharmacists were dose-ended. The types of questions most often asked by pharmacists included: (i) asking whether the doctor explaine d the medication; (ii) assessing whether the patient had any questions about the medication; (iii) monitoring the patient's medication use; and (iv) assessing the patient's familiarity with the medication.