Ontario Family Physician Readiness to Collaborate with Community Pharmacists on Drug Therapy Management: Lessons for Pharmacists

Abstract

Background/Objective: Collaboration between community pharmacists and physicians with respect to drug therapy management occurs relatively infrequently. There has been little research on physicians' views about such collaboration. The primary objective of this study was to assess Ontario family physicians' attitudes and readiness to collaborate with community pharmacists on drug therapy management. Methods: A 3-page survey instrument inquiring about 3 collaborative behaviours was distributed by fax or mail to a random sample of 848 family physicians and general practitioners across Ontario. Nonrespondents received 2 reminders. Results: The survey response rate was 36%. Most physicians reported conversing with a community pharmacist about a patient's drug therapy management 5 or fewer times per week, and very few said they used pharmacists as their primary source of medication information. Eighty-four percent reported that they regularly took community pharmacists' phone calls, while 78% reported that they sometimes sought pharmacists' recommendations regarding patient drug therapy. Only 28% reported that they sometimes referred their patients to community pharmacists for medication reviews, with 44% being unaware that such a service existed. Most comments were favourable, typically providing positive examples of collaboration with pharmacists. The most important identified advantage of collaborating with community pharmacists was more accurate medication lists. The main disadvantage identified was that pharmacists are constrained by not having access to key patient information (e.g., diagnosis, lab results, consultant reports). Additional barriers to collaboration reported by physicians included rotating pharmacists and perceived pharmacist interference with physicians' drug therapy plans. Conclusion: Overall, Ontario family physicians were engaged in limited collaboration with community pharmacists. By making an effort to increase the frequency of their direct professional interactions with physicians, pharmacists can enhance physician awareness of their willingness to provide patient-oriented services, thus facilitating collaboration.