Professional and business role orientations among practicing pharmacists

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy practice research
• Organizational behavior in healthcare

Background:

• Practicing pharmacists navigate dual role orientations: business and professional.
• Understanding these orientations is crucial for effective pharmacy practice and patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the coexistence of business and professional role orientations among Canadian pharmacists.
• To identify factors influencing these orientations.
• To assess the relevance of role orientations for actual practice behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Survey data collected from pharmacists across six Canadian urban centers.
• Analysis focused on the relationship between role orientations, influencing factors, and practice behaviors.

Main Results:

• No significant correlation found between business and professional role orientations.
• Work setting and current position were key factors influencing role orientation.
• Higher professional orientations were linked to beneficial practice behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacist role orientations are complex and not mutually exclusive.
• Workplace environment and position are critical determinants of pharmacist role perception.
• Promoting professional orientations may enhance pharmacy practice outcomes.