335809
Situational Prescription Drug Abuse-Related Communication Confidence among Community Pharmacists: An Exploratory Analysis
Using the validated Self-Perceived Communication Competence instrument as a framework, an 18-item survey instrument (0-100 scale; 0=completely unconfident, 100=completely confident) was developed and administered to 2000 Tennessee pharmacists. Items elicited communication confidence across multiple contexts and receivers, including PDA/M situations and common community pharmacy situations. Parametric statistical tests were used to examine differences in communication confidence across demographic variables.
A 40% response rate was obtained. Mean self-perceived communication confidence ratings ranged from 54.2 to 92.6. Statistically significant differences were noted across receiver type and context. Addiction communication confidence was significantly lower than all other scenarios involving patient communication, including items that could be considered accusatory to patients (non-adherence, smoking cessation). Differences in communicative self-confidence were noted across gender, practice setting, years in practice, hours worked per week, and number of prescriptions filled per week.
Pharmacists’ self-perceived communication confidence is situational and varies across pharmacist and practice setting characteristics. Efforts to engage community pharmacists in PDA/M prevention and treatment should foster development of communicative self-confidence across multiple PDA/M situations.
Learning Areas:
Communication and informaticsSocial and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe pharmacists’ self-perceived communication confidence across multiple contexts and receiver types, including prescription drug abuse situations
Compare pharmacists’ self-perceived communication confidence across practice setting and pharmacist characteristics
Keyword(s): Prescription Drug Abuse and Misuse, Communication
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have served as principal investigator and co-investigator on both federal and state grants that use health behavior theory to explain prescriber and dispenser behaviors specific to prescription drug abuse. I am particularly interested in health care provider communication and the role of interpersonal communication in substance abuse prevention and treatment.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.