Canadian survey finds overall positive impression of pharmacy

9/9/2016

TORONTO, Canada — A new survey commissioned by the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood Pharmacies) has found a generally high impression of the profession. About 75% of the Canadians surveyed said that they had a positive or somewhat positive impression of pharmacy. 


 


“I’m particularly pleased that Canadian patients continue to have full confidence in their pharmacies as fully integrated pharmaceutical and medication management service providers,” Neighbourhood Pharmacies CEO Justin Bates said. “This was demonstrated, to cite just one finding, by the fact that almost 60% of survey respondents stated that pharmacy staff had initiated a conversation about their medications or overall health every single time or most of the time.”


 


Some 40% of respondents said that having a pharmacist who knows them and is concerned with their health was the most important factor when choosing a pharmacy, and 33% said the most important factor was picking up prescriptions quickly and easily. Underscoring the importance among patients of a pharmacist who cares, only 18% of respondents said getting the best price on medication was the main factor they considered when choosing a pharmacy. The emphasis on quality was particularly apparent among older age groups. 


 


Patients in the survey with a positive impression of pharmacies, according to the results, take more than double the number of medications those with a negative impression do, which Bates said “underscores the vital role that pharmacists and pharmacy staff play in helping patients deal with such issues as medication adherence, adverse reactions, drug-to-drug interaction, etc.”


 

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