Table 3.

Practices of the pharmacist before dispensing medications to hemodialysis patients.

Variables	OP Pharmacist	DC Pharmacist	PP Resident
I encourage hemodialysis patients to ask about their medication
Usually	24 (53.3)	9 (100)	10 (83.3)
Sometimes	20 (44.4)	0 (0)	2 (16.7)
Never	1 (2.2)	0 (0)	0 (0)
I check the patient’s allergy status before I dispense the medication
Usually	45 (100)	9 (100)	12 (100)
Sometimes	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Never	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
I check the patient’s medication history before I dispense the medication
Usually	34 (75.6)	9 (100)	10 (83.3)
Sometimes	11 (24.4)	0 (0)	2 (16.7)
Never	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
I check the patient’s laboratory result before I dispense the medication *
Usually	11 (24.4)	6 (66.7)	11 (91.7)
Sometimes	25 (55.6)	3 (33.3)	0 (0)
Never	9 (20)	0 (0)	1 (8.3)
I check the appropriateness of the dose of medication
Usually	40 (88.9)	8 (88.9)	8 (88.9)
Sometimes	5 (11.1)	1 (11.1)	1 (11.1)
Never	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
I review the appropriateness of the timing of medication administration
Usually	17 (37.8)	8 (88.9)	7 (58.3)
Sometimes	25 (55.6)	1 (11.1)	5 (41.7)
Never	3 (6.7)	0 (0)	0 (0)
I call the prescribing nephrologist to clarify the prescription
Usually	28 (62.2)	6 (66.7)	6 (50)
Sometimes	17 (37.8)	3 (33.3)	6 (50)
Never	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
I take time to counsel hemodialysis patients regarding erythropoietin
Usually	19 (42.2)	2 (22.2)	2 (16.7)
Sometimes	26 (57.8)	2 (22.2)	10 (83.3)
Never	0 (0)	5 (55.6)	0 (0)
How long does it take you to counsel hemodialysis patients regarding erythropoietin? *
One minute or less	19 (42.2)	2 (22.2)	2 (16.7)
Two to five minutes	26 (57.8)	2 (22.2)	10 (83.3)
Ten minutes or more	0 (0)	5 (55.6)	0 (0)

* There is a significant association between the variables and the pharmacist’s place of work (p < 0.05); OP Pharmacist: outpatient hospital pharmacist; DC Pharmacist: discharge-counselling pharmacist; PP Resident: pharmacy practice resident.