Attitudes of physicians toward formularies and services provided by pharmacists

This study was undertaken to evaluate the attitudes of physicians toward formularies as well as services provided by the pharmacy department in a large integrated delivery system (IDS) with a multispecialty group practice. Surveys were sent to all 282 practitioners in the IDS, requesting information on their use of and satisfaction with the existing printed "Formulary Quick List" (FQL), their satisfaction with pharmacy services, and their attitudes toward formularies in general. A five-point rating scale was used. The response rate was 32%, with the majority from staff physicians. Results indicated that practitioners were very satisfied with the services offered by the pharmacists. Their attitudes toward the FQL were very positive. However, their attitudes toward formularies in general were very negative. There was a significant, negative correlation between attitudes toward formularies in general and attitudes toward pharmacy services, as well as toward the FQL.