The physician perspective on pharmacist-physician collaboration and trust

Area of Science:

• Healthcare delivery
• Interprofessional collaboration
• Patient safety

Background:

• Modern healthcare emphasizes interprofessional and collaborative patient care over individual practitioners.
• A robust working relationship between pharmacists and physicians is essential for optimal patient care and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate physician perspectives on the pharmacist-physician relationship.
• To identify qualities and actions pharmacists need to build physician trust for high-quality patient care.

Main Methods:

• Conducted semistructured qualitative key informant interviews with 11 physicians.
• Explored physicians' experiences, perceived barriers, and opportunities for trust and collaboration.
• Utilized the Unified Theory of Trust and Collaboration as a theoretical framework.

Main Results:

• Cooperation emerged as the most critical factor for effective collaboration, alongside respect, knowledge, communication, and trust.
• Identified barriers in the pharmacist-physician relationship included lack of identity, rapport, knowledge, positive attitude, and communication.

Conclusions:

• Building trust and improving communication are vital for effective collaborative practice among healthcare professionals.
• Pharmacists and physicians need to cooperate, share responsibility, understand behavioral impacts, and respect professional boundaries.
• Positive behaviors such as civility, communication, adaptability, and mutual respect enhance the pharmacist-physician relationship and collaborative practice.