Patient attitudes toward community pharmacist attire.
TL;DR: Understanding patient perceptions regarding pharmacist’s attire and its influence on comfort, confidence, trust, and professionalism may provide guidance on ways to enhance the quality of the provider–patient relationship.
Abstract: The white coat has symbolized professionalism, while representing provider-patient fiduciary relationship. Although well described in the literature for physicians, few studies examine the impact of pharmacist attire on patients' opinions regarding professionalism and trust. Therefore, understanding patient perceptions regarding pharmacist's attire and its influence on comfort, confidence, trust, and professionalism may provide guidance on ways to enhance the quality of the provider-patient relationship. A 43-item Likert-type questionnaire was administered to 347 adults in a community pharmacy setting to determine preferences about the pharmacist's attire, accessories, and body art incorporating 8 photographs depicting a male pharmacist in various degrees of dress formality (ie, casual to professional). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize and analyze the data. Survey respondents reported it was desirable/strongly desirable that pharmacists be dressed in a shirt and tie, dress shoes, white coat, and name tag (mean 4.21-4.72), whereas they should not be dressed in jeans, casual shoes, or have visible body art (mean 2.17-2.78). Over 86% of the respondents felt that a pharmacist with a white coat instilled feelings of comfort, confidence, trust, and professionalism. In a community pharmacy setting, a pharmacist wearing a white coat appears to be the mainstay in displaying professionalism and inspiring trust in adult patients.
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01 Jan 2011
1,120 citations
TL;DR: The study concludes that all informants agree that collaboration between community pharmacists and physicians definitely enhances patients’ drug therapy outcomes.
Abstract: Background: The role of community pharmacists is very important due to their access to primary care patients and expertise. For this reason, the interaction level between pharmacists and patients should be optimized to ensure enhanced delivery of pharmacy services.Objective: To gauge perceptions and expectations of the public on the role of community pharmacists in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).Methods: Twenty five individuals were invited to participate in 4 separate focus group discussions. Individuals came from different racial groups and socio-economic backgrounds. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Using thematic analysis, two reviewers coded all transcripts to identify emerging themes. Appropriate measures were taken to ensure study rigor and validity.Results: All facilitators and barriers that were identified were grouped into 5 distinct themes. The pharmacist as a healthcare professional in the public mind was the most prominent theme that was discussed in all 4 focus groups. Other themes identified were, in decreasing order of prevalence, psychological perceptions towards pharmacists, important determinants of a pharmacist, the pharmacy as a unique healthcare provider, and control over pharmacies by health authorities.Conclusions: This study provided insight into the way that the public looks at the role of community pharmacists in Dubai. Determinants that influence their perception are the media, health authorities, pharmacist’s knowledge level, attire, nationality, age, and pharmacy location.
27 citations
TL;DR: Patients’ preferences toward the attire of a male physician is explored to examine if a physician’s choice of uniform influences the degree of trust, confidence, and follow-up care among respondents.
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The doctor–patient relationship has been influenced by the appearance of physicians, and there is an association between a physician’s physical appearance and the patient...
17 citations
TL;DR: Trainees noted that they would have benefited from more responsibilities during training to ease the transition into practising as a responsible pharmacist and identifying areas less prone to change allows for more focus to be given to supporting trainees in areas where there is a development need.
Abstract: Recent longitudinal investigations of professional socialisation and development of professional behaviours during work-based training are lacking. Using longitudinal mixed methods, this study aimed to explore the development of professional behaviours during a year of intensive work-based (pre-registration) training in pharmacy. Twenty trainee pharmacists and their tutors completed semi-structured interview and professional behaviour questionnaires at four time points during 2011/2012: months 1, 4 and 9 during training and 4 months after registration; tutors participated in months 1 and 9. Interviews were analysed thematically using template analysis, and questionnaires were analysed using ANOVA and t-tests. Self-assessed (trainee) and tutor ratings of all elements of professional behaviours measured in questionnaires (appearance, interpersonal/social skills, responsibility, communication skills) increased significantly from the start of pre-registration training to post-registration. Some elements, for example, communication skills, showed more change over time compared with others, such as appearance, and continued to improve post-registration. Qualitative findings highlighted the changing roles of trainees and learning experiences that appeared to facilitate the development of professional behaviours. Trainees’ colleagues, and particularly tutors, played an essential part in trainees’ development through offering support and role modelling. Trainees noted that they would have benefited from more responsibilities during training to ease the transition into practising as a responsible pharmacist. Longitudinal mixed methods can unpack the way in which professional behaviours develop during work-based training and allow researchers to examine changes in the demonstration of professional behaviours and how they occur. Identifying areas less prone to change allows for more focus to be given to supporting trainees in areas where there is a development need, such as communication skills and holding increasing responsibility.
16 citations
Cites background from "Patient attitudes toward community ..."
...The demonstration of professional appearance, while apparently relatively easy to attain, is known to be an important quality in building trust in patients (Rehman et al. 2005, Khanfar et al. 2013)....
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TL;DR: A relationship with a respectful, friendly, competent pharmacist represents important pharmacist-related attributes in the process of pharmacy selection, including cost, convenience, and wait times.
Abstract: Objective Patient selection of community pharmacy is based on a multitude of factors. With increasing competition and rapidly changing face of pharmacy, identification of these factors is critical for patient satisfaction and financial success. This systematic review summarizes patient preferences for different attributes of community pharmacy. Data sources Systematic review of peer-reviewed studies conducted on U.S. population, published from 2005 to 2018 in EBSCO, PubMed, and EMBASE, was conducted to identify attributes of community pharmacy that determine patient patronage. Study selection Studies conducted between 2005 and 2018 on U.S. population that examined attributes in choosing a pharmacy were eligible for this systematic review. Data extraction Data were independently extracted, assessed, and evaluated by 2 reviewers. Any disagreements were resolved by the third reviewer. Data obtained included year, setting, number of patients, data collection and evaluation methods, and relevant results and outcomes. Results Of the 713 papers identified, 10 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Majority of the studies used surveys to examine key attributes that influence patients’ selection of a pharmacy. Pharmacist traits like friendly, helpful, trustworthy, professional, competent, caring, knowledgeable, responsive, and approachable are critical attributes that influence a patient’s selection of pharmacy. Convenience (i.e., location, hours of operation, wait time, stock availability) also influenced patients’ selection of pharmacy. Cost and contract with insurance were other important factors. Availability of auto-refills appeared consistently in the studies. Medication safety (detecting drug interactions) quality metrics also appeared high among patients’ preferences. Conclusion The results of this review found that a relationship with a respectful, friendly, competent pharmacist represents important pharmacist-related attributes in the process of pharmacy selection. Important pharmacy-related attributes include cost, convenience, and wait times. Availability of auto-refill service was also a frequently reported attribute in this review.
14 citations
References
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TL;DR: In those older than age 50, systolic blood pressure of greater than 140 mm Hg is a more important cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor than diastolic BP, and hypertension will be controlled only if patients are motivated to stay on their treatment plan.
Abstract: The National High Blood Pressure Education Program presents the complete Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Like its predecessors, the purpose is to provide an evidence-based approach to the prevention and management of hypertension. The key messages of this report are these: in those older than age 50, systolic blood pressure (BP) of greater than 140 mm Hg is a more important cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor than diastolic BP; beginning at 115/75 mm Hg, CVD risk doubles for each increment of 20/10 mm Hg; those who are normotensive at 55 years of age will have a 90% lifetime risk of developing hypertension; prehypertensive individuals (systolic BP 120-139 mm Hg or diastolic BP 80-89 mm Hg) require health-promoting lifestyle modifications to prevent the progressive rise in blood pressure and CVD; for uncomplicated hypertension, thiazide diuretic should be used in drug treatment for most, either alone or combined with drugs from other classes; this report delineates specific high-risk conditions that are compelling indications for the use of other antihypertensive drug classes (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers); two or more antihypertensive medications will be required to achieve goal BP (<140/90 mm Hg, or <130/80 mm Hg) for patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease; for patients whose BP is more than 20 mm Hg above the systolic BP goal or more than 10 mm Hg above the diastolic BP goal, initiation of therapy using two agents, one of which usually will be a thiazide diuretic, should be considered; regardless of therapy or care, hypertension will be controlled only if patients are motivated to stay on their treatment plan. Positive experiences, trust in the clinician, and empathy improve patient motivation and satisfaction. This report serves as a guide, and the committee continues to recognize that the responsible physician's judgment remains paramount.
14,975 citations
01 Jan 2011
1,120 citations
"Patient attitudes toward community ..." refers background in this paper
...For example, the impact of a health care professional wearing a white coat on a patient’s blood pressure has been clearly demonstrated.(25) White coat effect (WCE) and white coat hypertension can occur in community pharmacies to a similar extent as in the clinic setting....
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Book•
13 Jul 2001
TL;DR: Weidman as mentioned in this paper provides historical background on the study of professional socialization, compares and contrasts models of professional preparation, and addresses implications for the organization and administration of graduate and professional education programs.
Abstract: Weidman addresses both curricular and dispositional aspects of the graduate and professional students' experiences in higher education as well as processes through which individual students are socialized. This report provides historical background on the study of professional socialization, compares and contrasts models of professional preparation, and addresses implications for the organization and administration of graduate and professional education programs.
742 citations
TL;DR: A large proportion of health care workers' white coats may be contaminated with S aureus, including MRSA, according to a cross-sectional study involving attendees of medical and surgical grand rounds at a large teaching hospital.
250 citations
TL;DR: White coats are a potential source of cross infection, especially in surgical areas, and there is little microbiological reason for recommending a more frequent change of white coat than once a week, nor for excluding the wearing of white coats in non-clinical areas.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE--To determine the level and type of microbial contamination present on the white coats of doctors in order to assess the risk of transmission of pathogenic micro-organisms by this route in a hospital setting. DESIGN--Cross sectional survey of the bacterial contamination of white coats in a general hospital. SETTING--East Birmingham Hospital, an urban general hospital with 800 beds. SUBJECTS--100 doctors of different grades and specialties. RESULTS--The cuffs and pockets of the coats were the most highly contaminated areas. The level of bacterial contamination did not vary with the length of time a coat had been in use, but it increased with the degree of usage by the individual doctor. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from a quarter of the coats examined, more commonly from those belonging to doctors in surgical specialties than medical specialties. Pathogenic Gram negative bacilli and other pathogenic bacteria were not isolated. CONCLUSIONS--White coats are a potential source of cross infection, especially in surgical areas. Scrupulous hand washing should be observed before and after attending patients and it may be advisable to remove the white coat and put on a plastic apron before examining wounds. There is little microbiological reason for recommending a more frequent change of white coat than once a week, nor for excluding the wearing of white coats in non-clinical areas.
196 citations