Pharmaceutical care in chain pharmacies: Beliefs and attitudes of pharmacists and patients

OBJECTIVE: To discuss with pharmacists and patients with reactive airways disease their beliefs about pharmaceutical care and the pharmacist’s role in health care, obstacles to providing pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies, and strategies to overcome these obstacles. DESIGN: Two focus groups of patients, two focus groups of pharmacists. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen patients with reactive airways disease and 11 chain pharmacists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Qualitative reports on the pharmacist’s role in health care delivery and obstacles to implementing pharmaceutical care programs. RESULTS: Pharmacists wished to provide pharmaceutical care, and patients were supportive of pharmacists’ involvement in their health care. Both viewed counseling as an important role for pharmacists and believed that pharmacists should work with patients’ physicians. Reported obstacles included lack of time, inadequate privacy, and pharmacists’ lack of direct access to patients’ physicians. Pharmacists and patients believed pharmacists should have access to patient-specific clinical data. CONCLUSION: Focus groups provided valuable information for designing pragmatic pharmaceutical care. The obstacles and possible solutions identified through the discussions represent fertile ground for designing innovative pharmaceutical care programs.