General practitioners' views on the role of the community pharmacist

Abstract

Aim: to determine the views of general practitioners on the roles and activities of community pharmacists.

Method: the views of 137 general practitioners in Otago and Southland were canvassed by postal questionnaire.

Results: one hundred and three completed questionnaires were returned. All of the general practitioners reported that their professional contact with pharmacists was useful. Seventy-five percent expressed a desire for greater cooperation. Nearly all respondents (99%) accepted that pharmacists have a role in screening prescriptions for possible problems and preparing and dispensing medicines. They also accepted that pharmacists were capable of treating and advising in the management of minor illnesses. Providing drug information to general practitioners, information about previously diagnosed conditions to patients, and advice on personal and home hygiene were less widely accepted activities. The majority indicated that they considered it inappropriate for pharmacists to undertake screening programmes (blood pressure (70.6%), cholesterol (70.6%), glucose (60.8%), haemoglobin (72.5%)). Younger general practitioners objected more often than older general practitioners to reclassification of Acetopt eye drops from prescription only to availability through pharmacies (p < 0.05). Female general practitioners were more often in favour of reclassification of Gyno-Daktarin than their male colleagues (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: this study shows that general practitioners accept several aspects of the current role of pharmacists in providing primary health care. However, there is room for improved communication between general practitioners and pharmacists to ensure optimum patient care.