Pharmacist, physician, and patient opinions of pharmacist-treated minor ailments and conditions

Abstract

Objectives: To determine physician, pharmacist, and patient perceptions of pharmacist-provided treatment services for minor ailments and conditions and to assess the potential for community pharmacists to improve access to care in medically underserved areas.

Design: Qualitative and quantitative semi-structured key informant interview.

Setting: Rural eastern Washington State from March to June 2016.

Participants: Physicians, pharmacists, and pharmacy patients in rural eastern Washington State.

Main outcome measures: Qualitative analysis of physician, pharmacist, and patient perceptions of pharmacist-provided treatment services for minor ailments and conditions in a rural community. Quantitative analysis of physician pharmacist and patient interest in seeking treatment from a pharmacist for specific minor ailments or conditions.

Results: Eighteen key informant interviews were conducted between March and June 2016. Four themes emerged, including the existing need for pharmacist-provided treatment services for minor ailments and conditions in rural communities; rural providers have positive and trusting relationships with community pharmacists; pharmacists can take steps to increase physician interest in signing a collaborative drug therapy agreement; and the positive existing relationship between the patient and the community pharmacist can be the foundation for implementing treatment services for minor ailments and conditions. Physicians are most interested in pharmacist treatment of allergic rhinitis (100%) and insect stings (83%). Patients are most interested in seeking treatment for swimmer's ear (100%); human, dog, or cat bites (100%); or strep throat (100%). Pharmacists are most interested in treating allergic rhinitis (100%), insect stings (83%), and swimmer's ear (83%).

Conclusions: Physicians, pharmacists, and patients in rural communities support pharmacists implementing treatment services for minor ailments and conditions. All parties involved agreed that the need for treatment services for minor ailments and conditions in rural communities already exists.