Reasons and Outcomes of Pharmacy-Initiated Communication with Medical Practices-A Flashmob Study in Germany

Background/Objectives: Effective communication between medical practices and community pharmacists is essential for safe and efficient outpatient care, yet quantitative evidence from the perspective of community pharmacies regarding the frequency, content, and efficiency of routine pharmacist-physician communication in Germany is limited. This study aimed to investigate, from the perspective of community pharmacies, the reasons for and outcomes of initiating contact with medical practices following the submission of patient prescriptions in routine outpatient care. Methods: In this observational study, 45 community pharmacies in Leipzig and the surrounding region (Germany) documented simultaneously all contacts with medical practices related to prescriptions over a 14-day period (November 2023) using a standardized documentation form. Data included reasons for contact, communication channels, number of contact attempts, outcomes, satisfaction ratings, and case duration. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify factors associated with satisfaction with contact outcomes, and ordinal regression to examine determinants of case duration. Results: In total, 498 documented contacts were analyzed. The most frequent reasons for contact were drug availability issues and formal or content-related prescription errors. Consultations related to drug interactions or contraindications were rare. Overall satisfaction with contact outcomes was high, but lower satisfaction was associated with repeated contact attempts, non-acceptance of pharmacists' recommendations, and contacts related to formal prescription errors. Case resolution was faster when fewer contact attempts were required and when communicating with general practices rather than specialist practices. Conclusions: Pharmacy-initiated communication with medical practices in outpatient care is largely driven by administrative and logistical issues rather than clinical consultations. Improving prescription quality, enhancing transparency of drug availability, and strengthening efficient communication pathways may reduce workload and increase satisfaction.