2015 Volume 34 Issue 2 Pages 81-96
A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to clarify how community pharmacists recognize the legal validity of acts that involve touching their patients and to determine if the pharmacists had personal feelings of resistance toward particular acts. The questionnaire was sent to 400 community pharmacies that practiced home care and 147 valid responses were analyzed. The survey suggested that there were many pharmacists who had no objection toward measuring vital signs, such as temperature and blood pressure. Additionally, they recognized that it was necessary for doctors, other professionals, and patients to recognize their ability to measure vital signs. The survey also suggested that there were strong feelings of resistance toward invasive acts, such as insertion of an enema tube or a suppository. It was considered that these feelings were due to insufficient knowledge and experience, as well as uneasiness with hygiene issues. The necessity to participate in a practical study session was emphasized. When pharmacists recognized a problem with the legality of an act, their feelings of resistance, particularly toward examining bedsores and applying ointment on them, tended to become strong. Therefore, it was suggested that pharmacists may be able to perform the acts without feelings of resistance if the legality of the acts was clarified. Based on these findings, it is necessary to find a suitable rationale for performing each act, so that pharmacists will be able to perform the acts that involve touching their patients without feelings of resistance.
