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Authors: Chatterton, Marie¹; Blenkinsopp, Alison¹; Pollock, Kristian¹

Source: International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Volume 14, Number 4, December 2006 , pp. 255-262(8)

Abstract:

Objective To elicit and compare patients' and pharmacists' views on their interactions during the dispensing of prescriptions for statins.

Method Semi-structured interviews with 25 patients who were current or previous recipients of a statin on prescription, and 20 community pharmacists. Patient interviews explored their experiences of interacting with community pharmacists when first-time or repeat prescriptions were dispensed for statins. Pharmacist interview topics included roles that pharmacists currently perform in relation to patients receiving statins on prescription, and perceived responsibilities in relation to patients receiving prescribed statins.

Key findings Most patients said they used the same pharmacy regularly to get their prescriptions dispensed. Despite this, few patients' accounts indicated a perceived relationship with the pharmacist. Most pharmacists reported that they routinely provided information about dosage and side-effects to patients receiving a statin on prescription for the first time. In contrast, patients rarely reported that they had received such information from a pharmacist. In relation to repeat prescriptions for statins, patients' and pharmacists' accounts were similar and indicated that pharmacists rarely initiate discussions about treatment. Pharmacists' explanation for this was that they assumed the patient would already have received all the information they needed from other health professionals, and that patients would ask if they had any further queries.

Conclusions These findings indicate a gap between pharmacists' perceptions of their interactions with patients receiving a first-time prescription for a statin and patients' reported experience. Pharmacists may perceive that they provide more information than is actually the case. Pharmacists and patients agreed that when repeat prescriptions for statins are being dispensed there is little or no discussion about the medicine. Pharmacists need to consider how they might elicit patients' needs in a more systematic way.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1211/ijpp.14.4.0005

Affiliations: 1: Department of Medicines Management, Keele University, UK

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