Healthcare professional-patient relationships: Systematic review of theoretical models from a community pharmacy perspective

Abstract

Objective: To identify health care professional-patient relationship theoretical models and individual factors that may have an influence on this relationship and be relevant to community pharmacy practice.

Methods: Using the recommended methodology by Prisma Statement, a search was undertaken in PubMed for health care professional-patient relationship theoretical models that included individual factors.

Results: Eight theoretical models met the inclusion criteria. These models were classified based on their aim, their focus on the interaction process, external factors influencing the process, and their practical applications. The most common influential modifiable factors were knowledge, needs, values, expectations, beliefs and perceptions.

Conclusion: 'The Theory of Goal Attainment' (TGA) appears to be the most useful model for community pharmacy practice. The perceptions and expectations of both patients and pharmacists could be the two most interesting modifiable factors to apply in pharmacy practice. These modifiable influential factors could be altered by specific training such as behavioral aspects.

Practice implications: No theoretical model has been specifically developed for analyzing the community pharmacist-patient relationship. TGA may be appropriate for community pharmacy practice, since it takes into consideration both, attaining patients health outcomes, as well as improving patient-pharmacist relationship.

Keywords: Community pharmacy service; Influential factor; Pharmacist; Professional patient relationship; Systematic review; Theoretical model.