Survey backs consumer interest in pharmacy
Survey backs consumer interest in pharmacy
Consumers are interested in obtaining advanced pharmacy services and would embrace them if available, suggests a survey of 401 patients visiting a primary care clinic as part of the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The 72-question survey explored services ranging from medication counseling to simple diagnostics. The survey and its analysis was led by Kimberly Gault, PharmD, associate professor of pharmacy practice and family medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.1
As much as pointing out the potential for establishing advanced cognitive services that will draw consumers, the analysis "reflects the fact that patients recognize they have an unmet need for more advanced drug therapy management services," Gault says.
Aside from identifying 16 services and the percentages of respondents who use or would use them (see chart, at right), Gault found that more than 90% indicated the diagnostic services discussed applied to their health care needs. When asked about monitoring their responses to medication, 6% of respondents said they already get that service, while 60% said they would use it if made available by a pharmacist. Some 40% would welcome a medication review session with a pharmacist, while 3% said that service is available. And 1% said they use scheduled visits with a pharmacist, while 22% said they would if they could.
In terms of having pharmacists conduct blood pressure, glucose, or lipid levels, 69% of the respondents said they would prefer to receive such services at their own request or during drop-in visits, while 62% would prefer them while getting a refill and 56% during a scheduled visit with a pharmacist. The survey also found that 86% of respondents would like to be able to discuss medication problems with a pharmacist during their visit with a physician, and 58% would like to do so in a formal visit with a pharmacist. Eighty-two percent want collaboration between a physician and pharmacist about medication changes.
[For more details, contact Kimberly Gault, PharmD, Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center, 600 South 42nd St., Omaha, NE 68198. Telephone: (402) 559-4000.]
Reference
1. Gault K, et al. Using patient expectations and satisfaction data to design a new pharmacy service model in a primary care clinic. J Managed Care Pharm 1997; 3:531-540.
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