Role of the community pharmacist in patient counselling, 1982

One of the important functions traditionally carried out by pharmacists has been patient counselling. That is, pharmacists provide information about medications, foster treatment compliance and act as the first point of contact in the health care system. The study sought information about the counselling (advice giving) practices and attitudes of community pharmacists. Variables in the data set include the frequency of the public coming to the pharmacy as the first point of contact, the kind of problems for which people sought advice, who gave this advice, the proportion referred to a medical practitioner, problems not referred but treated by a pharmacist, evaluation of pharmacists' training, perceived responsibility, number of patients counselled per day, percentage related to NHS prescriptions, average time spent counselling, type of patient counselled and patient medication records. Background variables and pharmacist in charge details include sex, age, years in full-time employment, hours worked, qualifications, employment status, membership of professional associations, professional journals received and pharmacy details: use of computers, pharmacy location, trading hours and staff levels. Also covered are attitudinal responses to the role and behaviour of community pharmacists and job aspects which provide personal satisfaction.