A FIELD INVESTIGATION OF PARTICIPANT AND ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS ON PHARMACIST PATIENT COMMUNICATION IN COMMUNITY PHARMACIES

The objective of this study was to identify participant and environmen t variables that affect pharmacist-patient communication, and test the ir effects in a range of community pharmacy practices. Data were colle cted through unobtrusive observation, patient interviews, and pharmaci st interviews in 12 community pharmacies. Random samples of 30 patient s who received a prescription from a participating pharmacist were sel ected at each of the 12 pharmacies, yielding a total sample size of 36 0 patients. Relationships for Pharmacist Counselor Role Orientation, P atient Counselee Role Orientation, Lack of Time, Patient Privacy, Pres cription Transfer by the Pharmacist, and Importance of Information wit h Occurrence of Communication, were tested using logistic regression a nalysis. Relationships among the independent variables with Length and Content of Communication were tested using multiple regression analys is. Of the 360 patients who were observed and asked to participate in an interview, 304 (84%) provided usable responses. Significant relatio nships (P < 0.01) were found for Prescription Transfer by the Pharmaci st and Importance of Information with Occurrence of Communication. Pre scription Transfer by the Pharmacist was found to be a mediating varia ble for Counselor Role Orientation, Importance of Information, and Lac k of Time with Occurrence of Communication. Multiple regression analys is results showed positive relationships for Importance of Information and Patient Counselee Role Orientation with Length and Content of Com munication. The results can be used for improving communication betwee n pharmacists and patients to foster appropriate medication use by pat ients.