Identifying relationships between the professional culture of pharmacy, pharmacists' personality traits, and the provision of advanced pharmacy services

Meagen Rosenthal; Nicole W Tsao; Ross T Tsuyuki; Carlo A Marra

doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2015.05.003

Identifying relationships between the professional culture of pharmacy, pharmacists' personality traits, and the provision of advanced pharmacy services

Res Social Adm Pharm. 2016 Jan-Feb;12(1):56-67. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2015.05.003. Epub 2015 May 8.

Authors

Meagen Rosenthal¹, Nicole W Tsao², Ross T Tsuyuki¹, Carlo A Marra³

Affiliations

¹ EPICORE Centre, University of Alberta, Suite 4000, Research Transition Facility (RTF), 8308-114 Street, NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2V2.
² Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3.
³ Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3. Electronic address: cmarra@mun.ca.

PMID: 26050916
DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2015.05.003

Abstract

Background: Legislative changes are affording pharmacists the opportunity to provide more advanced pharmacy services. However, many pharmacists have not yet been able to provide these services sustainably. Research from implementation science suggests that before sustained change in pharmacy can be achieved an improved understanding of pharmacy context, through the professional culture of pharmacy and pharmacists' personality traits, is required.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to investigate possible relationships between cultural factors, and personality traits, and the uptake of advanced practice opportunities by pharmacists in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods and materials: The study design was a cross-sectional survey of registered, and practicing, pharmacists from one Canadian province. The survey gauged respondents' characteristics, practice setting, and the provision of advanced pharmacy services, and contained the Organizational Culture Profile (OCP), a measure of professional culture, as well as the Big Five Inventory (BFI), a measure of personality traits.

Results: A total of 945 completed survey instruments were returned. The majority of respondents were female (61%), the average age of respondents was 42 years (SD: 12), and the average number of years in practice was 19 (SD: 12). A significant positive relationship was identified for respondents perceiving greater value in the OCP factors competitiveness and innovation and providing a higher number of all advanced services. A positive relationship was observed for respondents scoring higher on the BFI traits extraversion and the immunizations provided, and agreeableness and openness and medication reviews completed.

Conclusion: This is the first work to identify statistically significant relationships between the OCP and BFI, and the provision of advanced pharmacy services. As such, this work serves as a starting place from which to develop more detailed insight into how the professional culture of pharmacy and pharmacists personality traits may influence the adoption of advanced pharmacy services.

Keywords: Advanced pharmacy practice; Improved pharmacy practice; Pharmacists' personality traits; Pharmacy culture; Pharmacy practice change.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
British Columbia
Cross-Sectional Studies
Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Immunization / statistics & numerical data
Male
Medication Therapy Management
Middle Aged
Organizational Culture*
Personality*
Pharmaceutical Services*
Pharmacies*
Pharmacists*
Professional Role
Sex Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires