Changes in Physicians’ Attitudes Toward Pharmacists as Drug Information Consultants Following Implementation of Clinical Pharmaceutical Services

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Abstract
The changes in physicians’ perceptions of pharmacists as clinical drug information resources following initiation of routine clinical pharmaceutical services in a large teaching hospital were studied. Data were collected from questionnaires mailed to resident physicians and chiefs-of-services one month prior to initiation of clinical pharmaceutical services and again one year later. The analysis compared changes in physicians’ attitudes toward the competencies of pharmacists to provide clinical drug information in six areas: literature reports of clinical studies, drug effects on laboratory tests, drug-drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, contraindications and choice of most appropriate drug. Physicians also were asked to assess their own competencies in these areas. Assessments were made on five-point Likert-type scales. Forty-nine percent (113) of physicians during the first phase and 53% (125) of physicians during the second phase provided usable responses. In their responses to both surveys, physicians rated all six general areas of drug information as being of equal concern in patient care. Physicians’ assessment of pharmacists’ competencies in all six areas of clinical drug information improved significantly following implementation of clinical pharmaceutical services (p < 0.05). Physicians also reported a significant increase in the frequency with which pharmacists were used as drug information resources (p < 0.001). Pharmacists were assessed as having greater competencies than physicians in the first four areas of drug information listed above and equal competencies in the area of contraindications. Physicians perceived themselves to be more competent than pharmacists in their ability to choose the most appropriate drug. Provision of clinical pharmaceutical services on a daily basis by staff pharmacists improved physicians’ attitudes toward pharmacists’ competencies to provide clinical drug information and increased the physicians’ use of pharmacists for drug information. The responses of physicians regarding the competency of pharmacists to choose the most appropriate drug suggest this group of physicians was not ready to accept independent prescribing of drug therapy by pharmacists.

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