Perceptions, experiences and expectations of physicians regarding the role of pharmacists in low-income and middle-income countries: the case of Tehran hospital settings

Abstract

ObjectivePharmacists play a pivotal role in the health continuum, and the perceptions and expectations of physicians towards pharmacists have been reported as a key factor in the interprofessional relationship. This study aimed to elicit the perceptions and expectations of physicians towards the role of pharmacists in hospitals to clarify the level of interaction between physicians and pharmacists in hospital settings.DesignA cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted to collect data in 2016.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out at 20 large government hospitals in Tehran Province. Data was collected using a questionnaire consisting of four sections. It includes a section on demographic profile and three sections to measure the perceptions of physicians towards pharmacists, the expectations of physicians and their experiences with pharmacists, respectively.ResultsMore than two-thirds of physicians (67.2%) agreed that pharmacists were a reliable source of general drug information. The majority of physicians (90.6%) expected pharmacists to advise their patients about the dose and administration of their medications. Almost half of the physicians (51.6%) agreed that they were usually informed by pharmacists regarding potential problems in their prescriptions. Both senior and junior residents had the view that pharmacists would inform them if any potential problems with their prescriptions were discovered (P=0.04).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that physicians had positive view on pharmacists’ clinically defined roles and also accepted pharmacists as a valuable source of general drug information. However, the perceptions and expectations of physicians towards pharmacists did not match their real experience. Therefore, improving the awareness of physicians about the benefits of interprofessional collaboration with pharmacists seems to be a key step towards the implementation of pharmaceutical care practices in Iran.

Perceptions and expectations of health care providers towards clinical pharmacy services at a tertiary cancer centre in Qatar

“…However, physicians consider pharmacists as knowledgeable drug-therapy experts, and they are positively receptive to several clinical services provided by the pharmacist with some reservations. [2][3][4][5][6][7] Studies have proved that a better collaboration between healthcare providers and pharmacists has led to safer, more effective and less costly drug therapies. [8][9][10] In 2011, a study conducted by Zidane et al 10 in our institute, which aimed to investigate the physicians' perceptions and expectations from their experiences with the pharmacists at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the largest governmental healthcare organization in Qatar, found that physicians were comfortable working with pharmacists and had high expectations of pharmacists in performing their duties.…”

Role of pharmacists in reducing antibiotic prescribing errors in an emergency department

“…Accordingly, cooperation between physicians and pharmacists is necessary for the safe and effective use of medications in hospitals. 17,18 Moreover, in the present study the dosing of antibiotics based on renal function was incorrect in nearly 35% of cases. The significant impact of pharmacists on appropriate renal dosing adjustment of antibiotics in an ED has been reported previously.…”

“…In addition, prescribing medications is a collaborative process that includes the skills and experience of both physicians and pharmacists. Accordingly, cooperation between physicians and pharmacists is necessary for the safe and effective use of medications in hospitals . Moreover, in the present study the dosing of antibiotics based on renal function was incorrect in nearly 35% of cases.…”

“…Furthermore, in a hospital in Oman, the acceptance rate was reported to be 67.00%, and this rate is close to that found in the present study. capitalise possible reasons for this low acceptance rate in Iran compared with developed countries are that pharmacists' roles in hospitals in developing countries like Iran have not been determined, and there is a lack of standard pharmacist practice guidelines . Another reason could be interprofessional miscommunication.…”

“…with developed countries are that pharmacists' roles in hospitals in developing countries like Iran have not been determined, and there is a lack of standard pharmacist practice guidelines. 17,18 Another reason could be interprofessional miscommunication. Pharmacists may not be able to communicate evidence-based recommendations effectively to physicians, so the rationale for the recommendation is unclear or misunderstood, leading to the physician choosing not to implement the suggestion.…”