Pharmacists' perceptions of a set of pharmaceutical care practice standards

J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash). 1997 Sep-Oct;NS37(5):529-34. doi: 10.1016/s1086-5802(16)30246-7.

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed pharmacists' perceptions of the feasibility and relevance of a set of community-based pharmaceutical care practice standards.

Design: Practice standards generated in a Delphi study were rated for feasibility of implementation and relevance to improving therapeutic outcomes by a randomized sample of 315 pharmacists on two 7-point Likert-type scales. These ratings were compared with assessments by Delphi panel experts.

Results: Pharmacists judged many of the standards favorably; however, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA revealed that they were less confident in the standards' feasibility of implementation and relevance to improving patient outcomes than were the Delphi panel experts.

Conclusion: Pharmacists appear ready to accept a majority of the practice standards used in this study. The lower ratings by respondent pharmacists may be indicative of apprehension about embracing a new practice paradigm and a belief that the provision of pharmaceutical care services has a limited impact on therapeutic outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Delphi Technique
  • Humans
  • Louisiana
  • Pharmacists*
  • Pharmacy / standards*
  • Professional Practice / standards