Table 1.

Characteristics of the respondents (n = 1190) and the target population (n = 5053).

Variable	Respondents (n = 1190)		Target population (n = 5053)		p-value**
	%	n	%	n
Variables associated with the respondent pharmacist
Professional status					0.858
B.Sc. Pharmacist (Staff pharmacist)	70	833	72	3654
M.Sc. Pharmacist (Staff pharmacist)	18	217	16	815
Pharmacy owner	12	140	12	584
Total	100	1190	100	5053
Specialization of the respondent*					<0.001
Asthma	25	272	14	706
Diabetes	21	230	13	680
Cardiovascular diseases	20	221	12	613
Participation in continuing education in SC
In-house training	48	568	na	na
Continuing education (CE)	25	302	na	na
In-house training by a drug company	40	477	na	na
CE by a drug company	33	398	na	na
Not participated	20	229	na	na
Variables associated with the respondent's working place
Location by province					0.790
Southern Finland	39	459	41	2087
Western Finland	33	392	35	1773
Eastern Finland	15	174	12	604
Northern Finland	13	157	12	589
Total	100	1182	100	5053
Annual prescription volume					0.161
Less than 40 000	21	252	16	782
40 000-80 000	38	452	34	1751
80 001 or more	41	475	50	2520
Total	100	1179	100	5053
Ownership					0.295
Privately owned	94	1108	91	4589
University owned	6	75	9	464
Total	100	1183	100	5053

* Based on the professional programs run by the AFP since late 1990 s to assure community pharmacies' contribution to the national public health goals. Information available on pharmacists working in privately owned community pharmacies (missing data from the two university owned pharmacies covering about 11% of the total prescription volume).

** Counted between the of respondents and the target population in relation to the background variable

na = not available