Content area
Abstract
Pharmacy is a health profession in transition. This study describes the need for health education services on the part of both the public and the profession. The public needs more and better information and education to make enlightened consumer choices and to improve compliance with medical therapy. The pharmacy profession needs new professional responsibilities and challenges to replace many of their traditional duties which are changing with modern technology and marketing practices.
The Community Pharmacy Education Practice Questionnaire was developed as the data collection instrument for this study. This questionnaire was distributed to a net sample of 853 pharmacists in the states of Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska. A total of 280 responses were received, of which 221 usable responses were coded for data processing and analysis.
Counseling of individual clients and their families was the dominant consumer health education activity taking place in the community pharmacy setting. The primary format of this counseling was verbal instruction supplemented by use of charts and distribution of printed materials. Little educational media was being used in this setting.
The majority of pharmacists supported the concept of consumer health education taking place in the community pharmacy setting. However, they differed in their perceptions of what prevented such activities from taking place and how aggressive the pharmacist should be in implementing these activities. Lack of pharmacists' time, lack of clients' time, and lack of appropriate atmosphere were the most significant logistical barriers identified by respondents. Pharmacists' attitudes, attitudes of ownership/management, and attitudes of clients were the most significant personnel barriers identified by respondents.
The sex, age, years of professional practice, education, role on the pharmacy staff, and site of practice all appeared to be demographic factors affecting the frequency with which consumer health education services are provided.
Finally, a three-phase model for conducting consumer health education in the community pharmacy was presented. In addition, areas for further research suggested by the study were identified.
