Abstract
Background:
Pharmacists generally enjoy a high ranking when members of the general public are asked to rate the most trusted professions. While it is a good thing that the pharmacy profession appears to be trustworthy, it is not clear whether the public fully appreciates what pharmacists can do.
Methods:
A telephone survey in the province of Saskatchewan was conducted between February 25 and March 2, 2010. The questionnaire consisted of 43 items.
Results:
A total of 1283 people were contacted; 403 (31.4%) agreed to participate. A majority of respondents were female (253, 62.8%). Two-thirds (262, 65%) felt they were a “customer” when visiting a pharmacy; only 14.9% (60) felt they were a “patient.” There was some limited support for an expanded role for pharmacists.
Conclusions:
Gender appears to play a role in public perceptions of pharmacists; women tended to have a more favourable view of the profession than men. Lower education and income level were associated with a more positive view of pharmacists. This study adds to our understanding of the public perceptions of pharmacists and the potential for increased scope of practice. Respondents in this study, as in similar studies, generally had a positive view of the pharmacy profession, but there is still some variation, perhaps showing that an inconsistent message is being communicated to the general public about the role of pharmacists.
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