Bidirectional Survey between Patients and Pharmacists about Medication Compliance Instructions in Community Pharmacies

Abstract

Medication compliance instructions in a community pharmacy should be carried out according to each patient's needs. However, much information needs to be imparted to patients, but it is difficult to provide sufficient explanations within the typically limited time constraints. Therefore, pharmacists might not be providing sufficient information to their patients when giving medication compliance instructions. In this study, in order to investigate the differences between the perspectives of patients and that of community pharmacists on the contents of medical compliance instructions, we investigated the importance and implementation ratio using a questionnaire asking what each considers important. The results indicated that all medication compliance instruction items are considered important by both patients and community pharmacists. On the other hand, the implementation ratio of medication compliance instruction items by community pharmacists was higher than the received ratio of medication compliance instruction items of patients in almost all the items except “Q14: the patient's own disease” and “Q16: the necessity of community pharmacists in medication compliance instructions etc.” Furthermore, there were some differences in emphasis between patients and community pharmacists. Particularly in “Q3: generic medicines,” “Q7: attention in life,” and “Q10: laboratory data,” the importance and implementation or received ratio were reversed between patients and community pharmacists. In conclusion, the matter of concern from the perspective of medication compliance instructions between patients and community pharmacists was illustrated by a comparative surveillance. It would be possible to create ideal improved medication compliance instructions suitable for the patient's needs based on the information derived from this type of assessment method.