Address of Corresponding Author

Med Princ Pract 2006;15:185-189 (DOI: 10.1159/000092179)

  Key Words

• Physician-pharmacist relationships
• Physicians' expectations of pharmacists
• Clinical pharmacy services in Kuwait

  Abstract

Objective:The objectives of this study were to evaluate the perceptions, expectations and experience of physicians with hospital-based pharmacists in Kuwait. Materials and Methods: A piloted self-administered questionnaire was hand delivered to 200 physicians practicing in four government hospitals in Kuwait. Main sections of the questionnaire comprised a series of statements pertaining to physicians' perceptions, expectations and experiences with pharmacists. Results: One hundred and twenty (60%) questionnaires were returned. At least 57% of physicians in Kuwait appear comfortable with pharmacists carrying out patient-directed roles. In addition, they appeared to have high expectations of pharmacists, with 79% of them regarding pharmacists as knowledgeable drug therapy experts. Less than 60% considered pharmacists as applying their drug knowledge in practice and only 29% agreed that pharmacists routinely counselled their patients. There was no correlation between physician variables such as number of years since graduation from medical school, age, area of practice and their perceptions of pharmacists. Conclusion: Physicians in Kuwait appear comfortable with pharmacists providing a broad range of services but appear somewhat less comfortable with pharmacists' provision of direct patient care. Physicians considered pharmacists knowledgeable drug therapy experts, but regarded them as not routinely providing a broad range of higher-level pharmacy services.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

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  Author Contacts

Dr. Nabeel Al-Saffar
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University
P.O. Box 24923
Safat 13110 (Kuwait)
Tel. +965 498 6897, Fax +965 498 6840, E-Mail alsaffar@hsc.edu.kw

  Article Information

Received: December 19, 2004
Revised: October 2, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 5, Number of References : 26

  Publication Details

Medical Principles and Practice (International Journal of the Kuwait University Health Sciences Centre)

Vol. 15, No. 3, Year 2006 (Cover Date: April 2006)

Journal Editor: Al-Zaid, N.S. (Kuwait)
ISSN: 1011-7571 (print), 1423-0151 (Online)

For additional information: http://www.karger.com/MPP

  Drug Dosage / Copyright

Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in goverment regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or, in the case of photocopying, direct payment of a specified fee to the Copyright Clearance Center.