Patients' beliefs regarding counseling provided by community pharmacists: An application of the theory of planned behavior

Objectives: To elicit salient behavioral beliefs, normative referents and control beliefs of patients regarding counseling provided by community pharmacists and explore the influence of other possible factors associated with patients' beliefs (e.g., pharmacist education, legal requirements) using the framework of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Methods: Focus groups were conducted with a convenience sample recruited from chain pharmacy locations located in an urban setting. A moderator interview guide comprised of 14 open-ended questions was used to collect data on patients' beliefs. The TBP was used as the theoretical framework to guide the focus group discussions. Each session was audio-recorded, transcribed, and participant responses were analyzed for thematic content. Results: Two focus groups (n=12), each lasting one-hour were conducted. Regarding the behavioral beliefs, most (n=11) emphasized the importance of counseling related to awareness of potential drug interactions and side effects. All participants identified their physician as the individual most likely to influence their counseling decisions. Most respondents (n=11) believed that lack of time of both pharmacists and patients presented a significant barrier to counseling. The majority (n=8) stated that they would receive counseling more readily if given in a more private environment. Participants' responses varied regarding knowledge and length of required pharmacists' educational training. Conclusions: Patients' believe that multiple barriers, specifically privacy and time limitations, impact their willingness to engage in counseling provided by pharmacists. Understanding the influence of these factors using the TBP may be beneficial in developing interventions that would strengthen patients' intentions toward engaging in counseling.