Int J Pharm Pract 1998:6:72-6

Department of Pharmaco-epidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Utrecht, PO Box 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Lyda Blom, PhD, assistant professor
Albert Bakker, PhD, professor

Department of Health Education, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands
Ruud Jonkers, PhD, assistant professor
Gerjo Kok, PhD, professor

Correspondence: Dr Blom mfar0494@far.ruu.nl

Original Papers

Patient education in 20 Dutch community pharmacies: analysis of audiotaped patient contacts

LYDA BLOM, RUUD JONKERS, GERJO KOK and ALBERT BAKKER

The level of patient education activity in Dutch community pharmacies was examined. A total of 200 hours' audiotapes of pharmacy patient contacts were collected in a selective sample of 20 community pharmacies. All pharmacists involved were selected on the basis of their interest in developing patient education in their pharmacies. The outcome measure was the percentage of patient contacts which included the provision of oral drug information. Both pharmacists and technicians participated in the audiotapes and their behaviour at the counter was compared. The results demonstrated that the provision of oral drug information was concentrated on contacts where patients collected drugs, and the contents of the information mainly concerned drug instructions. The pharmacists provided significantly more frequent oral drug information than the technicians. No differences were found in the frequency of provision of oral drug information to female and to male patients, or to patients and to relatives collecting the drug. Mostly the oral drug information was given without patients' questioning. The effects of these kind of activities on patients' drugs use are questioned because it is known that efforts to increase patient compliance should meet the educational principles of individualisation. Therefore, the development of patient instruction into patient education remains a challenge to pharmacists in the future.