ECONOMIC-ISSUES OF PHARMACEUTICAL CARE - THE PATIENTS PERSPECTIVE

This paper discusses specific trends in health care financing impactin g the demand for health care services, and examines the patient provid er relationship from an economic perspective. Patients are paying more out-of-pocket for health care likely promoting demand for health care goods and services high in quality and value. When the patient-provid er relationship is examined from an agency perspective, the importance of patient preferences for health care, especially preferences relate d to interpersonal aspects of health care become important. It is sugg ested that pharmacy researchers examine the importance of interpersona l preferences in the provision of pharmaceutical care and educators he ighten students' awareness and assessment of interpersonal preferences during patient interactions.