How Pharmacists are Rated as a Source of Drug Information by Physician Assistants

Abstract

A study to examine physician assistants' (PAs) views of drug information sources was undertaken in a sample of practicing PAs in Georgia. Analysis of Kendall's coefficient of concordance statistic indicated Pharm.D.s were ranked highest as being good sources of drug information of the six categories listed. Next in descending order of classification as good sources of drug information were the categories of journal articles, physicians, non-Pharm.D. pharmacists, detail persons, and physician assistants. A significant correlation was found between PA contact with pharmacists and the classification of pharmacists as good sources of drug information. The difference in rating between Pharm.D.s and journal articles and physicians was not significantly different, but the rating differences between these categories and each of the other sources were statistically significant. Pharm.D. pharmacists were rated higher as a source of drug information than were non-Pharm.D. pharmacists. Results indicate pharmacists are viewed positively as sources of drug information for PAs, and that view increases with contact with pharmacists.