Gap analysis of pharmacist communication with community-based oral health care providers

Current communication techniques among different types of health professionals are often inefficient and ineffective, leading to provider frustration and suboptimal patient care that can have community-wide implications. Oral health care providers (OHCPs) in the United States prescribe high numbers of antibiotics and immediate-release opioids and have practice sites that are physically isolated from those of other health professionals, making communication more challenging.

This study was conducted to identify barriers to effective communication between community pharmacists and OHCPs to inform the processes for improving provider education and the methods for training future pharmacists.

A mixed-methods approach was used. Community pharmacists with an active license were eligible to participate and were recruited via e-mail. The participants received an electronic survey that assessed current communication methods, obstacles to optimal communication, and comparisons of OHCPs with other prescribers. The survey participants were asked to self-identify their interest in telephone interviews, which were analyzed using thematic coding to assess the role of the pharmacist in combating public health issues such as opioid abuse through interprofessional collaboration.

There were 125 participants (response rate 9%) for the survey and 7 participants for the interviews. The most common reasons for which the pharmacists contacted OHCPs were to address incomplete prescriptions (40%) and medication-related problems (35%), with the most common medication-related problems being adverse drug reactions (35%) or cost issues (25%). The most challenging obstacles to communication included lack of time and lack of professional relationships. The pharmacists' impressions of OHCPs were largely positive.

Possible strategies to address the identified communication barriers include creation of a universal communication system and establishment of networks between pharmacists and community providers. This study lays the groundwork for future efforts in the field of interprofessional education research and practice, which can be used to improve delivery of community-based care.