Table 3. The attitudes of advanced pharmacy (n=95) and medical students (n=143) towards physician-pharmacist collaboration.
| Item | Response* (%) | Median (IQR) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disagree/Strongly Disagree | Agree/Strongly agree | |||||
| P | M | P | M | P | M | |
| 1. A physician should be viewed as a collaborator and colleague with a pharmacist rather than his/her superior. | 1.1 | 3.5 | 98.9 | 96.5 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) |
| 2. Pharmacists are qualified to assess and respond to patients’ drug treatment needs. | 1.1 | 18.9 | 98.9 | 81.1 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (0.0) |
| 3. During their education, pharmacy and medical students should be involved in teamwork in order to understand their respective roles. | 2.1 | 9.1 | 97.9 | 90.9 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) |
| 4. Pharmacists can contribute to decisions regarding drug interactions that can affect the patients. | 1.1 | 9.1 | 98.9 | 90.9 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) |
| 5. Pharmacists should be accountable (responsible) to patients for the drug therapy they provide. | 0.0 | 15.4 | 100 | 84.6 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (0.0) |
| 6. There are many overlapping areas of responsibility between pharmacists and physicians in drug treatment of the patients.† | 6.3 | 12.6 | 92.6 | 87.4 | 3.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) |
| 7. Pharmacists have special expertise in counseling patients on drug treatment. | 0.0 | 25.9 | 100 | 74.1 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) |
| 8. Both pharmacists and physicians should contribute to decisions regarding the type and dosage of medicine given to the patients. | 1.1 | 18.2 | 98.9 | 81.8 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (0.0) |
| 9. The primary function of the pharmacist is to fill the physician’s prescription without question. | 83.2 | 69.3 | 16.8 | 30.7 | 3.0‡ (1.0) | 3.0‡ (1.0) |
| 10. Pharmacists should be involved in making drug policy decisions concerning the hospital/pharmacy services upon which their work depends. | 3.2 | 18.2 | 96.8 | 81.8 | 3.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (0.0) |
| 11. Pharmacists as well as physicians should have responsibility for monitoring the effects of drugs on the patients. | 4.2 | 22.4 | 95.8 | 77.6 | 3.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (0.0) |
| 12. Pharmacists should clarify a physician’s order when they feel that it might have detrimental (harmful) effects on the patient. | 1.1 | 10.5 | 98.9 | 89.5 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) |
| 13. Physicians and pharmacists should be educated to establish collaborative relationships. | 2.1 | 12.6 | 97.9 | 87.4 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) |
| 14. Physicians should consult pharmacists for help with patients having an adverse reaction or refractory (not responsive) to drug therapy. | 1.1 | 16.1 | 98.9 | 83.9 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) |
| 15. Physicians should be made aware that pharmacists can help in providing the right drug treatment. | 1.1 | 14.0 | 98.9 | 86.0 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) |
| 16. Interprofessional relationships between physicians and pharmacists should be included in their professional education programs. | 2.1 | 17.5 | 97.9 | 82.5 | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) |
| Overall attitude | 4.0 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) | ||||
*
Responses rated on a Likert scale ranging from 1 = strongly disagree to 4 = strongly agree.
†
Percentage may not total a 100% due to some missing responses.
‡
Reversed score for this negatively worded item.
M, medical students; P, pharmacy students.