Implications of Health Care Providers by Physicians’ and Pharmacists’ Attitudes and Perceptive Barriers towards Interprofessional Collaborative Practices

Abstract The study was aimed at assessing and comparing physicians’ and pharmacists’ attitudes and experiences with collaborative practices, along with the extent of barriers toward interprofessional collaboration in Iraqi healthcare settings. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians and pharmacists in different healthcare settings in Baghdad, Iraq through an interview using a structured 3-part questionnaire, assessing the demographic characteristics, attitudes and barriers to interprofessional collaborative practices. A total of 384 participants were enrolled in this study. The physicians and pharmacists reported a significant positive attitudes towards collaboration, such as ‘’pharmacists are qualified to assess and respond to patients’ drug treatment needs’’ (69.8%, vs. 89.6%,; P=0.001);‘’pharmacists have special expertise in counseling patients on drug treatment’’ (59.9%, vs. 86%; P=0.001); ‘’physicians and pharmacists should be educated to establish collaborative relationships’’ (80.7%, vs. 100%; P=0.001), respectively. However, 57.3% of the physicians agreed about ‘‘lack or inadequate of pharmacists’ time to provide direct and effective patient care because of medications dispensing duties’’, while 56.8% of the pharmacists disagreed about this barrier (P=0.005). Both professions reported significant, positive attitudes and shared some barriers toward collaborative practices; however, there is a disagreement in some areas in which both professions would like more collaboration for better patient care.

摘要 本研究旨在评估并比较伊拉克医疗环境中医师与药师的协作实践态度与经历，以及跨专业协作（interprofessional collaboration）所面临的障碍程度。本研究采用描述性横断面研究设计，于伊拉克巴格达地区不同医疗场景中，针对医师与药师群体采用含3个部分的结构化问卷开展访谈调查，内容涵盖人口统计学特征、跨专业协作实践的态度及障碍因素。本研究共纳入384名研究对象。医师与药师均报告对跨专业协作持有显著积极态度，例如："药师有能力评估并满足患者的药物治疗需求"（医师组69.8%，药师组89.6%；P=0.001）；"药师在为患者提供药物治疗咨询方面具备专业专长"（医师组59.9%，药师组86%；P=0.001）；"应针对医师与药师开展协作关系相关教育培训"（医师组80.7%，药师组100%；P=0.001）。然而，57.3%的医师认同"因药品调配职责，药师缺乏或无足够时间为患者提供直接有效的护理服务"这一障碍，而56.8%的药师不认同该障碍（P=0.005）。两类职业群体均报告了显著的积极态度，并面临部分共同的协作实践障碍，但在部分领域存在分歧，双方均期望通过加强协作以提升患者护理质量。