Evaluating risk taking propensity as a predictor of the outcome dimensions of medication history taking

Medication history taking is a commonly discussed factor in the role of the pharmacist. Effective and efficient interviewing skills are important since they can be influential in affecting the quality of the medication history. Level of risk taking has been related to many factors which affect personal interaction. The objective of this study was to relate level of risk taking to the successful outcome of the medication history interview. Outcome dimensions of the medication interview were defined as successful completion and unsuccessful completion. Senior pharmacy students were observed and rated relative to the performance criteria of effectiveness and efficiency in acquiring patient medication histories over an eight-week period in an ambulatory medicine clinic. A significant Kendall Coefficient of Concordance indicated that the judges involved applied essentially the same standards in ranking the subjects. Subjects were administered a six-item questionnaire, the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire (CDQ), which measured their risk taking propensity. There were significant differences in mean levels of risk taking between the groups rated as high and low in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. Effective and efficient interviewers, who successfully completed interviews, were significantly higher in risk taking propensity. Tetrachoric r indicated the CDQ was efficient in distinguishing the criterion groups.